New College Durham

We are a leading provider of further and higher education in the North East, offering both part time and full time courses plus apprenticeships. Individual needs are assessed to give additional support.

We are fully committed to helping students get the best out of their college experience and we have an extensive range of support available, including study support, careers guidance, finance and personal counselling.

When is it on?

Time of day
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Session information
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm with evening classes available

Who to contact

Contact name
Student Support and Engagement
Telephone
0191 375 4380
E-mail
als@newdur.ac.uk
Website
New College Durham

Where to go

Address
Framwellgate Moor Campus
Framwellgate Moor
Durham
County Durham
Postcode
DH1 5ES

Local Offer

Local Offer description

Special Educational Needs and Additional Learning Support

At New College Durham we aim to create outstanding futures for all our students, and we do this in a number of ways. We offer an extensive foundation learning curriculum, with specialist teaching and support staff for students with a range of specific and general learning difficulties and/or disabilities.  In addition to this, our broad curriculum can be accessed by all students with appropriate support, help and guidance to meet the students’ individual needs.  We have courses ranging from Entry Level 1 to Degree Level.

Application & transition

All students that complete an application form will be interviewed and receive confidential and impartial information, advice and guidance. The College works in partnership with young people, parents/carers and local authorities to determine whether the College can meet their needs and aspirations.

Applicants are actively encouraged to declare a learning difficulty/disability on pre-entry and throughout their course, so that appropriate support can be put in place to ensure maximum opportunities to achieve.

Help and support is available to assist students to access the curriculum on offer.  We provide support for autism, behavioural and emotional difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.  The College also provides support for students with other physical disabilities including medical, mobility, mental health and sensory loss.

Our campus is fully accessible.  There are lifts in all three buildings and several automatic doors. It has a portable induction loop system.  There are accessible toilets available on each corridor as well as a separate Clos-o-Mat toilet and fully equipped personal care facility for students who require help with personal care, along with staff to support access.

A range of assessment techniques are available to students with additional support needs.  All students are invited in to meet the staff and discuss their support needs before the start of the academic year.  Students are regularly reviewed at school, and our Access Advisers can attend school reviews on invitation.  The College works very closely with schools, parents/carers, the local authority and the young person so that all information regarding a student’s needs is available prior to enrolment, and appropriate support put in place.

Students’ transition into College is arranged flexibly according to their needs, once accepted onto a course, students will be invited to attend summer schools and activities where they will meet other students and start to forge friendships before starting in September.  This is to ease the transition to College which can be a big step for some.

Special arrangements can be made according to need.  Please speak to our Student Support and Engagement Team.

The curriculum

We have specialist provision in our Foundation Studies for students with moderate learning difficulties or those that are vulnerable and have other specialist educational needs.  The broader curriculum can be accessed by all students with appropriate support, help and guidance to meet the individual’s needs.

Teaching & learning

The College curriculum is broad and teaching styles vary according to the level of the programme and the abilities of the students.  Strategies include, but are not limited to, one-to-one work, direct teaching and learning, practical skills teaching, self-study and information learning technologies.  Group sizes vary throughout the College.  Class sizes in Foundation Studies are small and organised according to students’ ability and needs. Teaching and learning across the college are interactive and challenging. Assessment of learning and progress takes place in all lessons.

The Student Support and Engagement Team has access to assistive technologies such as specialist software and hardware; as well as help to access these resources.  There is access to specialist maths and English support available in The Hub.

Assessment & progress

Whilst on the programme, staff carry out regular formative assessments with all students to help them work towards their final outcomes.  A number of different assessment methods are used, both written and practical. Where appropriate additional support is provided. 

Regular assessments of students’ needs are undertaken with a view to promote independent learning.

Formal reviews of progress are held and students at risk are identified and arrangements made with Personal Learning Coaches and tutors to assist, guide and support the student.  Parents’ evenings are arranged to discuss all students’ progress, however parents/carers of those at risk are involved at an early stage.  Each student has an individual learning plan which identifies intended outcomes and is reviewed and amended regularly with input from the student and the course team.

Students with High Needs are reviewed in partnership with the parents, Durham Co Council and where appropriate other agencies.

The College has comprehensive quality processes and through Curriculum reviews the progress of all students is monitored and the quality of teaching and learning assessed.  College success, retention and achievement data is published in the College’s self-assessment report which is available on through this site.

Support & contacts

A dedicated team of staff work in our Student Support and Engagement department. This includes a Student Support office where students, parents/carers and other agencies can drop in to ask for help.

All teachers, lecturers and student support staff are fully qualified and specialists in either their vocational areas or in areas of student support.  Staff attend external professional development events; as well as structured internal continuous professional development which has included behaviour management, Autism Awareness, Mental Health Awareness and Student Support Awareness.

The College has specially trained and qualified staff to deliver support in the following areas:

Specific Learning Difficulties – including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Autistic spectrum Conditions.  Support is tailored to each student’s needs and where appropriate, but can include:

  • One-to-one tuition with a specialist teacher
     
  • Enhanced and Specialist in-class support
     
  • Loan of digital recorder
     
  • Loan of a reading pen
     
  • In-college loan of laptop – with specialist software
     
  • Strategies and overlays to support difficulties with visual processing
     
  • Assessment for access arrangements for examinations
     
  • Out of class specialist support.
     
  • Quiet room at lunchtimes.

Hearing and Visual Loss – support for students with a sensory loss can include, but is not exhaustive:

  • Assessment of individual support needs
     
  • Trained and experienced support staff
     
  • Specialist equipment available
     
  • Communication Support Workers/Note Takers
     
  • Sight guidance.

Medical and Mobility  -  the team provided support for a wide range of medical/physical conditions and mobility difficulties.  Support for students with medical and/or mobility needs can include, but is not exhaustive:

  • Assessment of individual support needs
     
  • Learning Support Assistants
     
  • Specialist equipment
     
  • Specialist toilet facilities with ceiling hoist and clos-o-mat
     
  • Support to access College facilities
     
  • Individual plans to meet specific support needs.

Medical Needs Policy

Wherever possible medication should be taken outside of college hours. If this is not possible and you have a medical condition and require medication to be stored at College or require support to administer medication, a Medical Management Plan needs to be developed before this can take place.

The College has a Medical Needs Policy which was developed to ensure that adequate control measures are in place for the staff and students involved in this process. Please contact the Student Support & Engagement Office to discuss support for your medical needs in more detail and obtain a copy of the policy.

Mental Well Being – support from our mental health team can be:

  • Advice and support for students with mental health problems
     
  • Support with course related issues
     
  • Help to access community-based support
     
  • Mindfulness resource packs
     
  • Assessment of individual support needs
     
  • Referral to outside agencies.

Literacy and Numeracy – whatever course you are studying, we can support you to develop:

  • Reading strategies
     
  • Spelling strategies
     
  • Punctuation and grammar
     
  • Proofreading strategies
     
  • Basic maths skills

Virtual offer

In these unprecedented times, our priority has been to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, whilst ensuring that teaching, learning and support continues. Supported by cutting edge technology and highly experienced tutors, we are confident that students will not be disadvantaged in their studies and will successfully achieve as planned.

To ensure you can continue to learn we offer a blended learning environment. Timetables will clearly identify on-site face to face delivery and when the delivery will be remote and done through our VLE Schoology and TEAMS/ZOOM. Your course team will make sure you understand how to access these and provide you with access to the online material you will need to access. Access to these will be through your college enrolment number and college email enabling access to Microsoft 365.

Our student support offer is also blended, and you can expect the support package we have agreed with you after your initial assessment to include supporting you when you are learning off site.

Alternative methods of learning

• Not all lessons will be in the college.

• You will receive their timetable during welcome week and induction. It will show where you will have lessons remotely and these will be delivered to you via Teams or Zoom and your lecturer will be teaching you remotely.

• This is an exciting way to learn and we will provide the support needed.

• You will need to inform your tutor if you have difficulties accessing online learning.

• You may hear the term ‘blended learning’ and this means different ways of learning – face to face, distance learning and a combination of both. You may be required to take videos of your practical work and send them to your lecturer for assessment.

 • You will continue to have a tutorial session along with English and maths if applicable

For further information on the support available please contact:

E: ALS@newdur.ac.uk

T:0191 375 4380

Minicom: 0191 383 2371

Foundation Studies

We have high ambitions for our Foundation Studies students. We will challenge you and help you to achieve your aspirations. You will be assessed within your first two weeks at college so we can personally tailor any support you require and develop your individual learning plan with both academic and personal targets.

Our Foundation Studies courses are a great stepping stone to one of our full-time vocational courses, an apprenticeship or employment. https://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/full-time-further-education/vocational-areas/foundation-studies/

For further information and support please contact:-

Foundation Studies Team

FoundationStudies@newdur.ac.uk

Extra-curricular activities

The College prides itself on the enrichment activities enjoyed by our students.  There is a fully equipped gym, as well as the opportunity to join a number of different sports teams.

The Students’ Union supports activities, societies and development opportunities for students including the opportunity to get involved in a range of college activities and voluntary work.  Students are encouraged to represent their courses at Student Representative Level and are given training on how to do this.  The student voice is very important at New College Durham.

Each course has lots of different opportunities to participate in enrichment activities that are there to develop skills, knowledge and understanding. This develops skills needed for progression either into work or Higher Education.

Finance

Do not let the cost of undergraduate education put you off studying, with our affordable tuition fees, bursaries and support, we can help you finance your education.  All further education courses are fully funded for under 19s. There may be funding or an Advanced Learning Loan available to support learners aged 19 and over.

https://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/the-college/fees-and-funding/

https://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/the-college/student-support-at-new-college-durham/asc-advice-support-careers/student-funding-and-welfare/

Policies

At New College Durham, we take the safety of our staff and students very seriously with a different range of policies in place.

https://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/full-time-further-education/studying-further-education/additional-learning-support/policies/

External agencies

New College Durham works in close partnership with a wide range of different agencies to provide services for vulnerable young people.

For further information on the support available please contact:

E: ALS@newdur.ac.uk

T:0191 375 4380

Minicom: 0191 383 2371

Contact telephone
0191 375 4380
Contact email
als@newdur.ac.uk
Links
Further Education Local Offer
Higher Education Local Offer
Disclaimer

Durham County Council's Families Information Service does not promote nor endorse the services advertised on this website. Anyone seeking to use/access such services does so at their own risk and may make all appropriate enquiries about fitness for purpose and suitability to meet their needs.

Useful documents

  • New College Durham

Journey planner

Address: Framwellgate Moor Campus  Framwellgate Moor  Durham  County Durham

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