Welcome to Weston College Learning Support team

Here you will find information about how we can help support our deaf/hard of hearing students learning within the college on their chosen courses.

We want to reassure you that we can provide advice and support every step of the way through your application, interview ‘Familiarisation Days’ and enrolment on your course.

What are ‘Familiarisation Days’?

These are introductory days where students who have attended for an interview come in to meet the other students and staff, find out more about the course, what is included and to get to know their way around the college.

What support do we offer?

Sign Language Support
We offer sign language support with a Communication Support Worker on a 1 to 1 basis during class. The CSW will accompany you on educational visits outside college and will provide communication support during your interview and enrolment process.

You can request a CSW to provide communication support for you if you would like to attend any open days or evenings and for our ‘Familiarisation Days’.

Manual or Electronic Note takers
If you lip read, we can provide either manual or electronic note takers who will take notes for you during class so that you can follow the CSW or lip read the tutor. They will also ensure you are given key dates for homework deadlines and will ensure that any lessons you miss, for whatever reason, are provided.

Exam Concessions
We can arrange for you to have extra time to complete your exams, provide a separate room to reduce background noise and distractions and/or a reader and scribe.

1 to 1 Tuition & Mentoring Support
We can provide extra outside class support on a 1 to 1 basis to help with writing essays, managing your time and your workload, Numeracy and/or Literacy support.

We understand that making the transition from school to college can be a daunting experience for any student and particularly for deaf students who have been to a deaf school previously or who are worried that they may not be able to access the same support that they had whilst at school. As mature students it is often a major decision to decide to come back to college to study after being in work for some time.

We believe that it is important and extremely beneficial to provide deaf students with a person outside of their course studies that they feel comfortable and happy to go to for a chat or to express any worries or concerns they may experience through their time at Weston College.

We operate an ‘open door’ policy to students so that they know they have a place to go to at any time to discuss any issues or concerns.

Equipment

We have an Induction Loop System that is available for hard of hearing students to use in class to assist them.

How do we arrange Support?

Once you have been offered a place, you will be contacted by Emm Sharpe who works within Learning Support and is based on the 3rd Floor at Knightstone Campus in room 307.

Emm Sharpe is the Specialist Support Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator. Emm, who is a BSL user herself, ensures that all deaf students have the right support in and out of class whilst studying at the college.

Emm will contact you via text or email to arrange for you to meet with her to carry out an Initial Needs Assessment where she will discuss what support you will need whilst studying at Weston. She will prepare an Individualised Support Plan with you and once you are in agreement with this, she will implement and monitor this support through working closely with the tutors and other support staff in the faculty you are with.

Any questions?

To arrange to meet with Emm Sharpe or a course tutor on the course you are interested in doing please contact Emm on text 07780701556 or email emm.sharpe@weston.ac.uk

We hope you enjoy your time with us and we look forward to welcoming you to us in the near future!

Student Profile - Lucy

"Hello. My name is Lucy. When I was at school, I was on my own and I didn’t have many friends. I was bullied a lot because I was deaf. This made me feel sad. One day I was in the classroom when I decided to go to the toilet. While I was there the fire alarm went off but I wasn't aware of it. I was searching for everyone and when I couldn’t find anyone, I began to feel nervous and then started to panic. The school telephoned my mum and told her they had ‘lost Lucy’. My mum was very angry and sad and she cried. My GCSE exam results were poor. I didn’t feel that I learnt anything. I just didn’t like it.

When I arrived at Weston College things changed! I was offered both Sign Language support and note taking support. It was fantastic! I have made lots of friends. I have been thinking about going to university to study Pathology or Forensic Science. I hope to get a job as a Police Officer or a CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) when I have my hearing dog – which I hope I will get soon!."