Academic Support & Student Welfare

Academic Support Department

When you join Long Road Sixth Form College, everyone will be working to help you progress with confidence and success. Students gain most of their help and support from their teachers in class. However, at some stage, most students find they benefit from additional help with their work.

There are many forms of support such as:

• Examination arrangements

• Computer software and equipment

• Study skills sessions

• Drop-in sessions for students experiencing anxiety

• Drop-in catch up sessions

• Revision

• Extra individual support

• Hearing loops and braille facilities

• Note-takers in class (for some students)

Discussing

your additional support needs at interview will have no effect on your being offered a place a Long Road.

Our aim is for you have a smooth transition from your school to college and it helps us if we have all the available information at an early stage. We aim to ensure that all students have access to every aspect of college life and learning.

If you would like a copy of this booklet in a different format or want to view the college Single Equality Scheme and policy documents relating to disability and learning difficulties, please contact:

AcademicSupport@longroad.ac.uk

Extra individual support

The college offers individual support in addition to that given in departments in Subject Plus sessions, if, for example, you have:

Extra time

A specific learning difficulty, like dyslexia

English as your second language

Autism Spectrum Condition or ADHD

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Motor co-ordination difficulties, like dyspraxia

A hearing or visual impairment

If you have any other difficulty, which you feel hinders your learning and progress, you can be offered some individual support to help you get on top of your work.

All students complete a short screening test during induction, which can indicate whether you appear to have any areas of difficulty. If this is the case, and your teachers also have concerns, then we will ask you to come along to Academic Support to discuss your needs with a member of the team. We may assess you to see whether you would benefit from extra time in exams or other concessions.

If you already have a support need, you will see a member of the Academic Support Team, at enrolment, to discuss this further. You and the support teacher will agree how much extra support you should have and we will confirm the arrangements you need.

If you have an EHC plan the college will be informed by the local authority when you name Long Road as the college you wish to attend. We can then set up a meeting to talk through an individual support plan. Students with complex needs (with or without an EHC plan) will have a transition plan written prior to starting their courses.

Examination arrangements

If you have a specific learning difficulty you should be eligible for access arrangements in examinations. You may also be entitled to access arrangements for other reasons. You should discuss your needs with your support teacher and/or your Progress Coach.

Access Arrangements can include:

Extra time

A reader

A scribe

Use of a word-processor

Use of a separate or smaller room

Enlarged, Braille or modified papers

The examination boards decide on the arrangements you are entitled to and the college makes a request on your behalf. This is based on recommendations made usually in a report by an Educational Psychologist or Specialist Teacher. At Long Road, we have a team of qualified staff, who can update and complete new assessments, to ensure that all students access appropriate arrangements in examinations and throughout their course.

If you are to be given special arrangements in external examinations, these will also apply to any mock exams during the course. Staff in the Exams Office can answer specific questions about examination arrangements

Computer software equipment

We have the following resources which may be particularly useful if you have dyslexia or similar difficulties.

Claroread software

Will read any on-screen text out loud. Will read back your own work, either as you type or at the end, when you want to check what you ’ ve written.

Is available on all PCs in college.

Inspiration Software

Inspiration software could be helpful if you:

Have difficulty structuring essays. Find it difficult to stick to an essay title or topic. Prefer to record information in a more visual format.

Want to include images alongside text.

Inspiration is available on computers in the Study Skills Centre/ Academic Support.

'My Maths' website:

‘Allows you to practise your maths and keep track of your progress.

Is available both in and outside College. All you need is the college login and password.

Other ideas you might find helpful:

Voice to text software. Designated apps to improve literacy and maths skills, as well as organisation and time management.

Virtual Learning Environment - Moodle:

There are guides to a variety of literacy and study skills, such as writing essays and structuring your time, as well as links to useful websites on the Academic Support pages of the college virtual learning environment (Moodle).

Also on Moodle you will find information about specific learning needs, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism

Some questions we are often asked

Can any student have academic support?

We offer individual help to all students who have a specific need for help, which is additional to the subject content of their courses. We can, for example, help you if you have problems with organisation, examination techniques, structuring your essays. We can also provide an assessment of your learning needs, which could lead to extra time or facilities in your exams.

Where will I go for academic support?

Most support at Long Road is one-to-one and is carried out in the Study Skills Centre. We ask you to bring work from your subjects as a basis for the sessions. The support is designed to be specific to your individual needs.

Can I get an EHC Plan at Long Road?

An EHC plan is an agreement with the Education Authority and will always be taken into account in any support arrangements. A request for an EHC plan can be made by a parent contacting the local authority and the college would then be involved in providing evidence of need. If the plan is agreed by the local authority, we would put in place any recommendations.

When I leave Long Road can I continue to get exam concessions at University?

You can use your assessment report as part of your application but, if you are applying for Disability Student Allowance, you will also need to obtain a more thorough report from an Educational Psychologist.

I think I might be dyslexic but I’m not sure. What is dyslexia?

Students with dyslexia are often academically able with good oral skills, which do not always match with written work and/or number skills.

Dyslexia appears to be caused by differences in the brain which can change the way we think and handle information. This can mean it is more difficult for a dyslexic student to learn in a traditional way

Some of the main indicators of dyslexia include:

Difficulty remembering things

Slow reading and writing skills

Problems with organisation and time-management

Difficulties following instructions and directions

Difficulties with listening and note taking

Students with dyslexia find different techniques to learn effectively can produce good results at GCSE. Difficulties can arise when a student moves on to a more advanced level. We will arrange some tests in college which will indicate whether you may be allowed extra time or other access arrangements in exams.

What happens if I already have an EHCP from school?

If you have an EHC plan, it will be used as a guide for support. Depending on the nature of your chosen courses, you may receive more support or may need less than the original plan recommends. Having a copy of your EHC Plan and/or Educational Psychologist report will help us to set up appropriate support from the beginning of your courses at Long Road.

Will my teachers know about my learning difficulties?

Yes. Your teachers and your Progress Coach are informed of your specific needs. They will work with your support teacher to highlight any difficulties you are encountering on your courses and have experience and information about how to help you in class.

Who do I see if I have questions which this booklet hasn’t answered?

If you have any questions about Academic Support, please contact us on 01223 631100 or email us on Academicsupport@longroad.ac.uk.

Once at college, your Tutor or Progress Coach are the main members of staff who will give you advice, but any of your teachers will be happy to discuss your questions and help you gain the support you need and are entitled to.

“I found the lessons helpful for organisation. It also allowed me the opportunity to discuss work out of the classroom.”

"A great support even when just used as a talking board, very helpful with UCAS etc.”

Student comments

about Academic Support at Long Road

"This year I have had one to one on Tuesday mornings. I have found this very useful to get help with coursework or revision that needed to be done. Thanks to this help, my English has improved.”

“I have had support if I’ve needed it and this has helped me to get the good grades and enjoy my time at Long Road.”

“If I needed help I knew I had the opportunity to go and see a teacher and discuss work with them. Overall … I learned organisational skills and how to plan essays in an appropriate style. I also learned about revision resources on the intranet.”

Parent comments

“We will always remember with an enormous sense of gratitude the work and effort Long Road put in on our son ’ s behalf.”

“Thank you to all the staff…who have made it possible for her to have such a positive and enjoyable time with you. ”

“Thank you. Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. You have found ways of helping him that have not been detrimental to his self-esteem, quite the reverse. ”