Welcome to Blackburn College.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Blackburn College as you begin your college journey. Before the start of term in September, there are a few important things you’ll need to do to make sure you’re fully prepared. Please ensure that you:

• Apply for financial support for your studies and travel
• Make sure you can access your student email
• Make sure you can access Moodle, and your timetable
• If your course requires kit and uniform, find out how and when you can get it
• If you require one, complete a DBS check

Further information about the steps you need to take, and additional information about Blackburn College, is available below.

We look forward to seeing you on campus!

Your Email

Get to know exactly how your student email works.

Why your student email is important

All email communication from us will be sent to your @live.blackburn.ac.uk email address. Make sure you have access to your account on your phone or set the emails to forward to your personal email address.

How to access your student email

• To access your email, simply go to the homepage of our website, click on “Staff & Students” and then “Student Email”.
• Your email address is your student number 12345678 followed by @live.blackburn.ac.uk. If you aren’t sure what your ID number is, it is printed on your Student ID card.
• Your password is your first initial as a capital letter, then the initial of you surname in lowercase, followed by your date of birth in 8 digits 01092000. So if your name is Joe Bloggs and your date of birth is 1st September 2000 your password would be Jb01092000.

What is Teams?

Microsoft Teams is your virtual learning environment. It allows you to:

• Access course materials
• Gain feedback
• Contact tutors
• Upload work
• See grades
• and much more...

Teams is simple to use. The system is laid out to make accessing resources, submitting assignments, and receiving feedback as stress free as possible. Notifications and messages are sent automatically to your Teams account and linked email.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Some courses (including Early Years, Health and Social Care and Sport) require you to have completed a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check. If this applies to you make sure you complete your application online as you will not be able to go on placement without it. If you are not sure if you need a DBS check, speak to your Key College Contact to check.

What will it cost you?

£20 to you, the student. The remainder of the cost is subsidised by Blackburn College.

What identity documents do I need to provide?

To complete your DBS check you will need:

• 3 forms of ID (see below)
• Your home address(es) for the last 5 years - this should include month and year that you lived there

At least one of these:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Provisional/full driving licence
• National identity card

Two or three of theses:

• Adoption certificate
• Official letter confirming your National Insurance Number
• Recent bank statement (less than 3 months old), back account opening confirmation letter (less than 3 months old)
• P45 or P60 statement
• Official letter from college or high school (dated in the last 3 months and must include your name and address)

For further information and guidance see the Government’s DBS ID checking guidelines or the Basic DCS checks: guidance.

When your DBS Certificate arrives, keep it in a safe place because you will need to show it to your tutor as well as each placement that you go on. Replacements are expensive, so keep it safe.