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Additional Learning Support

Business students 2019 Bedford College

PROVIDING SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE

If you have an identified learning difficulty and/or disability the Additional Support team are on hand to provide support and give you the assistance you need to complete your course.

Our committed team can provide you with:

  • Our Learning Facilitators offer small group support to make your assignments fantastic and develop your English and maths skills further
  • specialist equipment, adapted materials and other resources to support your learning
  • special exam arrangements if required
  • support with accessing the College
  • hearing and autistic support specialists

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

The email address for main Additional Learning Support queries for the group is ALSteam@bedford.ac.uk

Our phone number is 01234 291333

If you have any EHCP specific queries, please email: EHCP@bedford.ac.uk

If you are a Higher Education student then please click here to find out support available to you.

Bedford College Group Student
Foundation Studies Skills Programme

Jack Beard's Story

I started at Bedford College in the September after I finished school. I like socialising at College and have made quite a few friends. We also have lunch clubs we can go to including Lego and the games room.

I chose Catering & Business as my vocational subject. I’ve enjoyed cooking since middle school. We run a kitchen called Souper Douper where we take orders from people around the College, cook the food, deliver it and then take the money. We cook different things including jacket potatoes and quiches. We also made the buffet food for the end of term Christmas party.

I also study English and maths and do my work experience at the British Heart Foundation shop. I help with jobs such as tagging clothes and have to be very organised.

Once I finish my Foundation course I want to move on to a full-time course at the College and then find a job.

I feel very supported at College so I would recommend it to others. There are also lots of opportunities available to help you develop and learn new things.

Bedfordshire Deaf awareness

At The Bedford College Group we believe that our fantastic College environment should be inclusive to everyone and so, for our deaf students, we have a wide range of services designed to allow you to participate fully in College life.

We have a specialist ‘Deaf Team’ who work tirelessly to ensure that the College is meeting the needs of our deaf students, our support includes:

  • BSL and SSE communicators
  • Electronic and manual note takers
  • Deaf coordinator
  • One-to-one-support with first language BSL tutors
  • College wide Deaf Awareness delivered to all staff

To find out more about our Deaf provision email ssampson@bedford.ac.uk (Bedfordshire) or rmould@bedford.ac.uk (Northamptonshire) send a text message to 07972 137373 or use our interpreted call system by calling 01234 291142.

 

Autistic Spectrum Condition Support

We are committed to:

  • Developing the provision for students on the autistic spectrum across college.
  • Championing the needs of those with Autism cross-college to ensure their needs are met.
  • Providing advice, guidance and support for identified students with Autism and the staff supporting them.

Additional information

Information on Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

As soon as we meet a person we make judgements about them. From their facial expression, tone of voice and body language we can usually tell whether they are happy, angry or sad and respond accordingly.

People with autism can find it harder to read the signals that most of us take for granted. This means they find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others which can lead to high levels of anxiety and confusion.

The Havens at Bedford and Shuttleworth College
The Havens at Bedford and Shuttleworth are safe spaces for vulnerable students to access at any time during the college day. Both Havens are staffed and can be utilised by students to:

  • Take time out in a quiet space
  • Eat your lunch
  • Complete college work
  • Speak to a member of staff
  • Catch up with other young people accessing the Haven

We also have a social group, meeting approximately once per month for activities in the evening that students which students are welcome to join. ‘Like’ our Facebook page to be invited to these events or email wcook@bedford.ac.uk, or nwelch@bedford.ac.uk to find out more!