Preston College

Support Services FAQ

Q: I'm looking forward to college as it will be a fresh start but I'm a bit nervous as well. Is there anyone in college who will help me?

A: Yes, definitely. We have lots of experience of helping students in the first few weeks of term who struggle fitting in to a new college. You will be allocated a Learning Coach and Mentor (LCM) when you arrive at the College. Your LCM is the first person to talk to if you have a difficulty. If you need more support and you don't want to talk to your LCM, you can talk to a member of our Student Support Team.

Q: I'm planning to go to University after I finish my course. I have an idea about which course I want to do but I'm unsure which Universities offer the type of course I'm looking for. Will there be anybody at College who can offer me some guidance and advice?

A: Yes, the Student Support Careers Team is available to help. It is never too soon to think about where you would like to progress to after you have completed your course with us. You may need to ask yourself, do you: want to go onto University? Do another course at College? Take a year out? Look for full time work? Or possibly progress to a training programme, such as an Apprenticeship? These decisions are not easy and we have a team of advisors at College who can help you make these important decisions.

Q: Can I practice my faith at College?

A: Yes. At Preston College we make provision to assist our students in meeting their spiritual and religious needs. Our Multi Faith Centre exists to serve the whole college community and the College has the services of a Christian and Muslim Chaplains.

Q: I'm on a course and my tutor has told me I will need to buy some equipment. Is there any help I can get towards costs?

A: The College's Learner Support Fund is there to help students with costs like these. How much you get will depend upon what you or your parents earn. Please be aware that in most cases the Learner Support Fund is only able to meet part of the cost of equipment.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Preston College offers support to students with a wide range of additional learning requirements. We offer mentoring programmes with staff who can offer one-to-one support.

Q: Who can have support?

A: Support is available for all learners with a learning difficulty and/or disability, following an individual assessment. We support many learners on a wide range of Higher Education, A Levels, and vocational courses, both full and part-time. We offer support to learners with the following learning difficulties or disabilities:

• Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, ADHD etc
• Physical disabilities
• Visual impairments
• D/deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH)
• Mental health difficulties
• Specific learning difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, etc.)

If you feel you would benefit from additional support, please contact the Additional Learning Support Team to arrange an informal, confidential interview.

Q: What type of support could I have?

A: Support will be tailored to your needs following an individual assessment. This could be in or out of class, on a one-to-one or small group basis. Support could be in the form of specific learning aids such as laptops, dictaphones, a support worker in class or a mentor.

Q: What do I do if I require the use of specialist equipment or software?

A: Contact the Additional Learning Support Team who will discuss your individual learning requirements.We will then arrange for you to have access to specialist equipment or software necessary to enable you to successfully achieve your learning goal.

Q: I have had exam arrangements in the past, for example extra time, reader/scribe etc. Is this available at Preston College?

A: Yes, contact the Additional Learning Support Team when you enrol at the College and we will arrange any necessary assessments and liaise with appropriate exam Boards/Bodies on your behalf. We also have Learning Mentors who support students during their time at Preston College. We are here to help anyone who may be struggling to adapt to College life, have personal issues or difficulties, both in and out of College, or even just need a friendly face and a person to talk to for some general advice or support. Some students encounter problems with accommodation (for example they are in temporary accommodation), falling behind with work, whilst others may have had a disrupted secondary education and are concerned about attending a College where they may not know anyone, feel unsure or lack self confidence. Some students may have personal issues that they do not want to talk to teachers or friends about. Whatever your concern, Learning Mentors are here to help and will take an active role in supporting a student, either personally or by making links with the right person (a careers or welfare advisor), ensuring the student enjoys their time at Preston College.

Our Disability Statement booklet provides further details of Preston College facilities and services. For a copy or further information on the wide range of additional support available, contact the Additional Learning Support Team or tell a member of our Schools' Liaison Team that you may require additional support.

Don't forget to tick the 'extra support' boxes on the Preston College application form in order to identify the type of support you may require. You can also discuss your requirements during your interview with a member of the Schools' Liaison Team.