Learning support

"Support for students is outstanding. Learners receiving additional learning support have a higher success rate than the average for the college."

Ofsted report, 2009.

At South Devon College, we take our responsibility to support your learning very seriously. We can support your learning in a number of ways.

The identification of your individual learning support needs could be the key to your success. If you have a learning difficulty or sensory impairment that has been identified in the past, have been in special education, or you are worried that you are not finding some learning as easy as you expected, then we can help you. We can provide additional support for you - for example:

• Ongoing classroom support
• Special support/help - for example with an aspect of English or Maths, access to informal support in The Learning Resource Centre
• Provision of special equipment or software
• Additional time or special arrangements for exams

As early as the application stage you are provided with the opportunity to inform us of identified or possible support requirements. This early identification of needs will allow time for the planning of support, however support plans can be developed and reviewed throughout your learning programme.

As part of the interview programme at South Devon College, you will be asked to undertake an initial assessment. This will provide you with an overview of your current literacy and numeracy aptitude. The results will help inform the interview process, ensuring that you access your choice of programme at the correct level. As your new course progresses, you will have the opportunity to participate in an additional activity. This provides more detail than the initial assessment and offers you the opportunity to identify your specific strengths and weaknesses in literacy and numeracy.

Armed with this knowledge and working with your teachers, you can build on your strengths and address any weaknesses. In some cases, you may be referred for an assessment to identify a learning difficulty such as dyslexia. These assessments, carried out by experts, will inform a specialised programme of support which can lead to support in the classroom on your learning programme, in the Skills Centre extra to your learning programme, or exam arrangements to meet your needs. South Devon College wants to help you succeed on your chosen programme and move on to the next stage of your career.

Examinations

Subject to evidence from medical or educational psychologists for approval by the particular examination board, individual arrangements can be made to cater for students' needs. These may include extra time, a reader, a scribe, use of a word processor or full amanuensis.

These facilities are also available for internal assessments.