Additional Learning Needs (ALN) support available at Bridgend College

How we can support you

The Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Support Team provides support for students with difficulties or disabilities who may require specific provision, in addition to the universal support provided to all students.

We use a person-centred planning approach to work with students and their families to identify individual needs. We plan and put into place a package of support which is personal to each student, which is reviewed at least annually and shared with key staff involved in supporting you, including your Course Tutors.

Our local offer sets out our commitment to young people who choose to study at Bridgend College and who have a need for additional learning provision.

We are ambitious for our students and dedicated to supporting them to ‘Be all that they can be.’ This includes supporting our students to become more independent, achieve excellent outcomes and develop skills to live fulfilled adult lives within the communities in which they live.

You can tell us that you may have a need for additional learning provision as part of your online application, by asking your school ALNCo or Careers Officer to inform the college, letting us know during your course interview or at enrolment or by contacting us directly by emailing: aln@bridgend.ac.uk

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ALN Centre

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Support for students with Autism Spectrum Conditions

We support students with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) in planning and managing their routines, with workload and with managing sensory processing and improving confidence.

Group support is available, which includes social groups at lunchtimes to help you meet other students who have similar needs to you.

Our Autism Lead also provides one to one support for students who may require additional or extended transition into college and for ongoing regularly timetabled, bespoke support sessions. An Autism Hub is available for drop-in support within our Additional Support Centre in E Block on Bridgend Campus.

Our Learning Support hubs at our Bridgend and Pencoed campuses have a quiet space for students who have ASC or may be experiencing high levels of anxiety. These spaces can also be used during break and lunch times.

PEOPLE CENTERED

Passionate

Communication support

We provide British Sign Language (BSL) communication support for BSL users, and support students with hearing impairments with translating, modification, proofreading, notetaking and recommendations. We have a portable induction hearing loop, along with a range of assistive technology to support students with communication support needs.

Assistive and adaptive technology

Assistive technology can support with accessing and completing tasks, enabling you to become more independent in your learning and daily life.

We have a range of software and hardware to support using tools such as voice typing, narration software, E-reader pens and other reading tools. We can also provide support with using tools to help with visual difficulties and/or hearing difficulties and physical equipment to make using technology easier. Our Assistive Technology Lead will also be able to recommend apps that may be helpful to you.

An assistive technology assessment will help us plan for any individual support you may benefit from.

New students

Supporting with health-related and medical needs

We have secure storage and recording systems for all essential student medication. Staff trained in first aid and medication handling are able to provide support along with named individuals who are trained in specific care and support including the administration of buccal and epilepsy medication.

We have a large number of staff who are experienced in providing personal care. Please let us know if you have specific medical needs.

Support with visual difficulties

A range of personalised support is available to students who need additional provision due to visual difficulties. This may include assistance from an allocated Learning Support Assistant, adapted learning resources, adaptations to the learning environment, support with using assistive technology recommended for you, onsite mobility support and training and a bespoke transition package. If you need additional learning provision, an Individual Development Plan will be developed, which is person-centred to meet your needs. We can also work closely with sensory teams and other visual impairment specialist organisations to provide the support you may need at college.

TEAM PLAYER

INSPIRATIONAL

Specific Learning Disability (SpLD) Support

Specialist tutors are able to offer you advice and support if you have Dyslexia, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, ADHD or visual difficulties.

Our SpLD tutors can provide specialist one-to-one and drop-in group support, screening for dyslexia, assessments for exam access arrangements and reasonable adjustments and screening for visual stress.

Supporting students with exam access provision

If you would benefit from exam access arrangements, your Course Tutor will be able to refer you for an assessment. They will work with you to identify any areas that you may be having difficulties with and identify any adjustments which can be made as part of your normal way of working.

Once a referral has been submitted, one of our Specialist Tutors will contact you to arrange an assessment in the areas identified. If you are awarded access arrangements in line with JCQ guidelines, this information is shared with the Exams Team and added to your learning record so that you and your Course Tutors know what you need to have in place. This might be extra time, a separate room, access to a scribe, a reader, a prompter, use of a computer, other recommended adjustments or a combination of these.

Once awarded, your access arrangements will remain in place for 2 years, whilst studying at Bridgend College and can be reviewed and renewed if necessary after 2 years from the awarded date.