The ALS (Additional Learning Support) team at Blackburn College are here to help you if you have a learning difficulty, disability or any other learning needs.
We will adapt our support to suit you and make sure all of your needs are met. We are a responsive support service and will tailor support to meet your individual needs.
Support for students with complex support requirements
We recognise that some young people may have more than one disability or difficulty that affects their learning. The Additional Learning Support Team will work in a multi-disciplinary way to assess and meet your support requirements as effectively as possible.
Support for students with learning disabilities and physical disabilities (e.g ASD, ADHD)
Support for young people with learning difficulties and physical disabilities (e.g Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is designed around their individual needs and so no two support packages look the same. Information from school, parents and the student themselves helps us to get the package of support right.
Support for students with specific learning difficulties (e.g dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc)
Blackburn College has excellent support services to help learners with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia and dyspraxia. Our fully qualified assessors carry out up to 300 assessments a year to identify students’ strengths and areas of difficulty to ensure that they receive the support they need.
We support a large number of students each year who are enrolled on a wide variety of Further Education and Higher Education courses. Support is delivered by tutors specialising in specific learning difficulties and can take the form of one to one tutorials, small workshops or in class support (depending on learners’ needs).
Support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to promote their health and wellbeing
We recognise that there are times when learners may need support around their health and wellbeing.
Our support staff are here to listen to you and have a range of skills and experience required to provide the support you need.
Support for students with a Sensory Impairment
Our Sensory Impairment Service offers support for young people that is second to none. We have a qualified Teacher of the Deaf and a qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired who support more than 100 students a year.
All of the college’s Communication Support Workers hold Signature Level 3 BSL qualifications.
Local offer
You may find the Local Offer if you live in Blackburn with Darwen and the Local Offer if you live in Lancashire useful.
Exam access arrangements
If you have had exam considerations at school or College in the past, such as extra time or a reader, or if you think you may need exam considerations now, please contact the College Additional Learning Support (ALS) Team to discuss this.
The ALS Team will work with your course tutors to help you get the considerations you need in exams e.g. extra time. The ALS team will assess and identify the considerations you need and will ask your course tutors about the help you receive in class. This is because the considerations you get in exams has to reflect the way you normally work in class. Once the ALS team receive this information from your tutors, they can apply for considerations to be put in place for you in exams.
Get Set (Supported Internship Programme)
If you are ready to leave full time education and are looking for employment opportunities then Get Set could be your first step into the world of work. This programme will give you the opportunity to work with local employers and undertake job roles that will provide you with skills and experience that you will need when you start work.
It's not all "Work, work, work" though, we also provide you with:
- Learning opportunities that help you decide what sort of work would suit you.
- Residential experience where you will be away from home, learn with other students and staff how you develop your skills, look after yourself, develop a work ethic and work with others.
- The opportunity to visit places in England where you may never have been.
- Opportunities to learn outside the classroom; with employers and in a local community.
We try to make sure that all that you learn is personal to you and that you learn at a pace and time to help you achieve the best result.
Contact us
We advise that you contact our ALS team before you apply or visit an open event so that we can offer you the support you need at the start of your journey.
- Call: 01254 292585 / 01254 292336
- Transitions Team: 01254 292411
- Text phone: 07837418148
- Transitions email: alstransitions@blackburn.ac.uk
- Email: alsinformation@blackburn.ac.uk
ALS at Blackburn College has a qualified Teacher of the Deaf as well as a qualified Teacher for students with Visual Impairments. All of the college’s Communication Support Workers hold Signature Level 3 BSL qualifications.
The team also includes note takers and support workers, as well as mentors. ALS can also offer support and guidance for students who are, or have been, in the care of the Local Authority.
