Additional Learning Support

We work with students to ensure they are supported to be independent, preparing them for their next steps after College.

• Promotion of self-advocacy – Students are in the best position to ensure relevant staff are aware of the adjustments they can make, and the additional support that may be required. We seek to empower students in developing self-advocacy as effective development of these skills will enable success beyond their time at HNC.
• Quality First Teaching in the classroom – This is enabled through the Cedar Learning Support Summary. Examples of this adaptive teaching include regular assessment and feedback, direct checking of understanding, modified materials, specific seating arrangements etc. Students are encouraged to self-advocate for any beneficial adjustments by showing staff their learning support summary via the cedar app. Further examples of specific ‘Quality First Teaching’ adjustments can be found within our Quality First Teaching Toolkit.
• Allocation of Learning Support Assistants – Some students will be allocated a Learning Support Assistant to act in an advisory capacity. The role of the support advisory meetings is to help students navigate and access the support available to them, reflect on their progress and areas for development, and schedule any further support required for the periods between their periodic advisory meetings. These meetings are integrated with college-wide progress monitoring intervals. Where support is provided to students within their classes, we aim to empower student ownership of this support, by enabling their control over when and where support is provided to best suit their requirements.
• Referrals – These are made to the Learning Support Centre for developing ‘systems’ for study, access arrangements or exam support. These can be:
  • Self-referrals
  • Parental referrals
  • Teacher referrals
  • Progress tutor referrals

Through the delivery of a short programme of support, we aim to develop students’ sustained independence.

• Exam access arrangements assessments – Assessments for exam access arrangements take place to discuss areas of difficulty and to carry out formal testing. These are followed by the application for access arrangements and teachers are notified of any implications for teaching.
• Social development opportunities – The Enlighten programme exists to provide social skills development opportunities for specific students, to enable these students to form new social connections, whilst also exploring and developing potential new interests.
• Independent learning and assistive technology – Access to, and support in developing competency using Assistive Technology.  TextHelp Read & Write is installed on all HNC computers and students are provided with Microsoft 365 online which has a number of assistive features built-in to it as standard. Self-help materials are available, and workshop opportunities are provided to coincide with college-wide progress monitoring intervals.  
• Support for transitions – Transition support is offered to students to help ensure a successful move to post-16 education, and to ensure they are appropriately prepared with the skills and confidence to be effective self-advocates for any support they may require during their next steps.