Weymouth College SEND Provision

We have quite a range of special educational needs and disabilities that we are currently supporting.  These include the following:

Mild, moderate and severe learning difficulties

Social, emotional and mental health needs

Physical disability or sensory needs

Autism Spectrum Conditions

Medical conditions

As long as you can meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, and funding has been approved by the SEN team at Dorset County Council, we will plan the support that you will require to complete and achieve your course.

The support team will start to gather information once an application for a college course has been made.

It’s really helpful to the support team if we can be provided with a copy of your Education, Health and Care plan together with any relevant documents or assessments as early as possible.  We welcome any communication from you, your parents and carers, the school or any other agencies that can help us to ensure that your needs can be supported effectively.

A member of the support team will complete an Additional Learner Support plan with you before or during your enrolment process.  This plan will be shared with the personal tutor and lecturers that will be working with you to ensure that they are able to make adjustments and support your learning needs.

Everybody is unique here at Weymouth College and we like to celebrate that and support learners in making decisions about how they want to live their lives.  The college is at the heart of the local community and we encourage our students to work towards making a positive contribution to that community.  We offer students the opportunity to build their confidence, explore their potential, make new friends and develop their living and work skills whilst gaining recognised qualifications.

You will learn in a safe and friendly environment and will be supported every step of the way by our experienced and dedicated staff.  At Weymouth College we are committed to helping our students succeed and have invested in dedicated facilities to aid your learning and development.

You will be able to access courses at levels that are appropriate for you with the support that you require to meet your needs.  Individualised timetables are written for any student that doesn’t feel ready to complete a full time, main stream course.  Their timetables are designed to take account of their specific interest and needs and may include tasters in a vocational area to help prepare them for progression when they are ready.

We have a team of staff with a wide range of experience and expertise in

• All staff attend regular staff development days where training is designed to meet the needs of the students and keep up to date with current developments in SEND.
• Additional training also takes place by trained specialists this included:
• Manual handling
• First aid
• Administration of medication training arranged to support individual students
• Personal Emergency Evacuation training for individual students with mobility needs
• Supporting learners with their education
• Network meetings and sharing of best practice with other education providers
• Professional development is monitored and supported for all staff by the college appraisal system

Personal tutors and course tutors continuously monitor your academic progress. Support is identified where required to help you complete and achieve your qualifications.  Termly reviews are completed through discussions between you and your personal tutor.  A parent report is also written and discussed at parents’ evening.

Your EHCP outcomes are monitored and reviewed regularly. Person Centred Reviews will be held to discuss your outcomes and update the action plan.

Student surveys are regularly undertaken to evaluate the college provision and student experience.  Results are analysed and included in self assessment reports produced by each department.

Student representatives are nominated for each course and meet termly to put forward any opinions or concerns you may have for the college management team to consider and respond

At Weymouth College, we welcome contact from parents which helps us to effectively meet our students’ needs.  We develop effective communication and partnerships between parents/carers and staff, sharing information and knowledge that is beneficial for you. We will also consult with parents/carers during parents’ evenings, person centred reviews and at any time during the year when you may require support.

We support you with your transition to life after college.  Our supported internship programme can help you into employment or a traineeship.  If your pathway is to independent living, we will encourage you to investigate options available to you and support you with a smooth transition to adulthood.