Additional Learning Support

Introduction

We appreciate and value the contribution that individuals with learning difficulties and/or disabilities bring to the college.

We are committed to:

  • Making students with additional support needs feel valued, respected and supported.
  • Creating an inclusive environment where students participate fully in college life.
  • Ensuring students are treated on the basis of their merits, ability and potential.
  • Helping students enjoy being included in every aspect of student life.
  • Providing high quality support.
 

How we can help

We are a large team of dedicated staff experienced in supporting learners with a wide range of needs.

If you have a disability or learning difficulty we are here to help you find the appropriate support.

We offer various types of support including:

  • Physical support
  • Support for a hearing or visual impairment
  • Assistive technology loans
  • Workshops
  • Clubs
  • Support in the classroom
  • Online/remote support
 

Discuss your support needs

We understand that joining college can be an anxious time and it is important that we understand how we can support you.

If you haven’t already told us about your support needs at application or enrolment, please share this information with us so we can discuss your needs.

 

Complete our questionnaire

You will have been sent a message following your application to fill out an ALS support questionnaire. You can fill the questionnaire out by logging into your application.

We will:

  • Treat the information you give us with care and with your consent.
  • Share the information with your tutors and support staff, so they know how to support you in and out of the classroom.
 

Exam access arrangements

If you received access arrangements in your exams or assessments at school or most recent educational placement, it is important you tell us.

Examples of access arrangements include the use of:

  • A reader
  • A scribe
  • A prompt
  • Separate accommodation
  • Additional time
How to send your evidence

There are two options for sending evidence; by email or by post:

Email your evidence to us at:

AdditionalLearningSupport@southessex.ac.uk

Alternatively you can email your evidence directly to Lorraine Brophy or Jenny Hixon at:

Lorraine.Brophy@southessex.ac.uk
Jenny.Hixon@southessex.ac.uk

Post your evidence, marked for the attention of Lorraine Brophy or Jenny Hixon in the ALS team, to:

South Essex College
Luker Road
Southend-on-Sea
SS1 1ND
United Kingdom

If we have not already received evidence of your request, this will delay us in being able to undertake the necessary assessments for you to receive access arrangements at college.

We have to work to tight exam board deadlines, so it is critical that you contact your tutor if you have not already done so.

 

Local Authority Information

Southend Local Authority
Thurrock Local Authority
Essex Local Authority
 

Contact us

ALS team

You can email the following ALS Mailbox and we will respond to your query as soon as possible: AdditionalLearningSupport@southessex.ac.uk

Learning Mentors (LM)

Learning Mentors are responsible for arranging support in the following curriculum areas. Learning Mentors can be contacted by phone on the numbers detailed below, by college email, or Microsoft Teams.

Southend Campus

Anne-Marie Hayter
Anne-Marie.Hayter@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220600
Learning & Progression/Entry Level/Service Industries Travel & Tourism

Chris Thomson
Chris.Thomson@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220685
DTMPA/Service Industries Sports and Public Services

Sarah Jee
Sarah.Jee@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220499
Health & Science/Adult English & Maths/Adult FE Counselling/Service Industries Hair & Beauty

Jenny Hixon
Jenny.Hixon@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220599
Exam Access Arrangements (Southend)/HE

Jacqueline Palmer
Jacqueline.Palmer@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220630

Thurrock Campus

Samantha Tucker
Samantha.Tucker@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362633
Engineering & Construction, Art & Design, Business, DTMPA, Adult English & Maths, Service Industries

Shan Mok
Shan.Mok@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220445
Exam Access Arrangements (cross college)/Apprentices/HE (Thurrock)

Stephenson Road Campus

Ann Graham-Older
Ann.Graham-Older@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220505
All curriculum departments at that campus

Luckyn Lane Campus

Jo Thomas
Jo.Thomas@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220695
All curriculum departments at that campus

New Basildon Campus

Jo Thomas
Jo.Thomas@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220695
DTMPA, Learning and Progression

Sensory Team Learning Mentor

Gabriella Garroway
Gabriella.Garroway@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362787
Covering ALS support for Thurrock Campus areas of: Health & Science, Learning & Progression

ALS Learning Mentor Managers (LMM)

 The Learning Mentor Manager Team can also be contacted via email at the following address: ALSSeniorLearningMentors@southessex.ac.uk

Each LMM has an area of responsibility for Additional Learning Support and can be contacted as follows for further advice and guidance related to their areas of specialism:

Sarah Fincham
Sarah.Fincham@southessex.ac.uk or call 07720 968128
Sensory Team

Tina Booth
Tina.Booth@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362640
High Needs Students and Complex Health/Physical Needs

Sarah Markey
Sarah.Markey@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362642
Education, Health and Care Plans

Lorraine Brophy
Lorraine.Brophy@southessex.ac.uk or call 01702 220475
Access Arrangements, Higher Education, Apprentices

Gill Collins
Gill.Collins@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362769
Social & Emotional Needs, Mental Health

Head of Additional Learning Support

Karen Fox
Karen.Fox@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362601

Administrators

Ferwin D’Costa
Ferwin.D'Costa@southessex.ac.uk or call 01375 362612

 

Welcome pack

 

Useful resources

The following links will support you with accessible features of the following remote platforms:

  • MS Teams – Accessibility overview of Microsoft Teams - Office Support.
  • Zoom – Accessibility overview of Zoom.
  • Google Meet – Accessibility overview of Google Meet.
  • Ambitious about Autism – Ambitious about Autism has launched the UK’s first online platform for autistic young people. Offering autistic young people aged 16 to 25 a safe and moderated online space to help them understand their autistic identity and reduce isolation and loneliness that many feel. Young people will be able to take part in peer support sessions, share experiences and find volunteering, work experience and employment opportunities. There will also be opportunities for them to work together and campaign for change.
  • Positive Dyslexia – Positive Dyslexia YouTube channel has some free webinars.
  • Made by Dyslexia – Website for positive emphasis on role models etc.
  • OpenDyslexic Typeface – OpenDyslexic is a typeface designed against some common symptoms of dyslexia. If you like the way you are able to read this page, and others, then this typeface is for you!
  • Worksheet Genius – A free online machine that makes differentiated, randomized worksheets; you can add words that want to use or practice and it makes up the game for you with them.
  • BDA Technology – Keep up to date with the latest technology and Apps for classroom use with the British Dyslexia Association.
  • Easy Spelling Aid – Easy spelling aid empowers you to independently spell words and phrases.
  • Todoist – Organise todo lists.
  • Adapt – Revision timetables.
  • Quizlet – Discover 10,000 ready-made study sets covering 24 GCSE subjects, aligned to exam board specifications and created by Verified Educators and partners.
  • Seneca – Seneca is a free online revision platform. It presents subject content, organised by a helpful checklist, and uses self-marking questions to check your understanding as you go.
  • Blocksite – Block distracting apps and sites.
  • Forest App – Forest is an app that can help you stay focused.
  • Noisli App – Background sounds that help to mask annoying noise especially for those with sensory sensitivity.
  • miMind – Mind Mapping tool - organizing your thoughts, laying out schemes. Once your map is complete you can also share or export it to an image, PDF, text or XML file.
  • The Shine App – Self-care toolkit to help you deal with the day-to-day highs and lows.