What is Academic Support at Cirencester College?

We offer individual and small group academic support sessions to those who require additional support with their studies. This might include:

• guidance on time management and organisation.
• study and revision skills.
• numeracy/literacy/essay writing support.
• social skills support.

We also carry out assessments for exam access arrangements e.g. extra time, word processor, scribe, reader, rest breaks, solo working.

• Students who have an EHCP
• Students who have had specialist support in their school
• Students who have Specific Learning Difficulties e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s.
• Students who have a physical/sensory impairment e.g. visual or hearing impairment or other physical support needs.
• Students whose lecturers refer them to our service, due to significant needs.
• Students who have had previous exam dispensations/exam access arrangements.
• The service is for any student enrolled on a course at Cirencester College who meets our criteria.

Students attend a regular weekly support tutorial during their individual study time. This may be short or longer term.

We liaise with teachers and tutors and Learning Support Workers to ensure that support is tailored to individual needs.

We work closely with the exam team to ensure exam access arrangements are in place for students who are eligible.

The Learning Support Team's main role is to support students in the classroom. Some have teaching experience, others have nursing or care backgrounds and other have business or personnel management experience. We need this wide range of personalities and experience in order to cater for the diverse needs of our students.

A need for in-class support is usually identified and discussed at transition reviews (for those students with an Education Health & Care Plan), but in exceptional cases it may become apparent during the application process, during screening or as the course progresses.

Learning Support Workers (LSWs) are employed by the College to enable students who have additional support needs to access the curriculum, thrive and work towards independence
LSWs support students in a number of ways. For example:

• in class 1:1 support.
• help with access and assisting with physical needs.
• note-taking.
• organisation of workloads.

We aim to invite every student with an EHCP in at least once prior to starting at Cirencester College. They will meet 1-1 with an academic support specialist have a tour of the college and discuss any concerns they may have.

Useful items for discussion when you do meet will be:
Strategy for the first/early sessions.
How do you learn best and how can we help you?
A communication system, including discussing the working relationship and progress between student, LSW and lecturer.