Learning Enhancement at NTC
Learning Enhancement At NTC
NTC is committed to being an institution that is accessible to all learners. We want our students to
develop into independent, lifelong learners who are able to impact the communities around them.
Our Learning Enhancement team offers a supportive and enabling learning
environment for all students, both on-campus and online. For those who have physical and mental
health needs or specific learning differences, we can offer particular support to enable them to
thrive while studying with us. We have experience of supporting students who have:
- A specific learning difficulty (SpLD) or learning difference such as dyslexia or dyspraxia
- Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety
- Autistic Spectrum Condition
- Neurodevelopmental conditions such as AD(H)D
- Sight or hearing problems
- Chronic conditions such as epilepsy or chronic fatigue
- Physical impairments or mobility difficulties
- Speech, language or communication difficulties
- Other long-term health conditions
Our approach to support is relational, holistic, confidential and specific to your individual learning needs. We offer appropriate and flexible support based upon the information that you choose to share with us, which is why we encourage you to let us know about any needs before your studies begin or as soon as you can after you arrive at NTC.
How Can We Support You?
We offer open-door access to our Learning Enhancement team, who will work closely with you to
support your learning experience. Examples of what we offer include:
- Meeting with you at any stage of the application process to tell you more about studying at NTC and explore how we can make the college, lectures and facilities accessible for you
- Welcoming and supporting you as you transition into life at college
- With your permission, liaising with your lecturers about your specific needs, e.g., for lecture notes to be made available to you in advance or, if required, on coloured paper
- With your permission, liaising with the academic office so that you can apply for extensions on assignments
- With your permission, using any EHCP you may have to shape the support that we provide
- Making exam adjustments such as rest breaks, extra time or use of a computer
- Assisting you with completing forms for Disability Support Allowance (DSA). For more information on DSA see the GOV.UK website
- Working with you (if you are in receipt of DSA) to arrange funded support such as delivery of specialist equipment or one-to-one appointments with a study skills coach
- Guidance on seeking a diagnosis
- One-to-one meetings to help you plan out your time when it comes to class readings, essay preparation, and submitting assignments
- Meeting with you throughout your studies to ensure that you are happy with the level of support you are receiving.
You will have a lot of control over the support you receive and if you ever want to review or change
the arrangements that are in place for you just let us know.
Study Skills Support
NTC offers weekly timetabled study skills sessions for both undergraduates and postgraduates. As
many of our students come from non-traditional backgrounds, we believe that good study skills
support enables students to thrive while studying. We can also offer one-to-one study skills support
to any student to help identify and build on their strengths, improve academic literacy, and develop
skills and strategies to help them to cope with any study difficulties they experience. The content of
the session is flexible and student-led. This will be in a private room, and online sessions are also
available. The sessions may cover a number of different areas, including:
- Time management and organisation
- Research skills
- Developing ideas
- Note-taking
- Writing: composition, accuracy, expression, structure
- Reading
- Planning
- Critical analysis
- Understanding lecturers’ feedback
Meet the Team
We can only offer support if you tell us about your needs. If you choose to tell us, we can discuss your learning needs and ensure that we can provide appropriate support. If you can, please let us know about your learning needs before you begin your studies so that we can give you the best support possible.
To discuss Learning Enhancement in more detail, please contact the team at [email protected]
What we do with your Information
Anything you share with the Learning Enhancement team regarding your disability, SpLD, or long-term health condition remains confidential within the Learning Enhancement team unless you give us permission to share this. With your permission, the Learning Enhancement team may share this information with the Academic Office, Lecturers, the Library staff, the placement coordinator, or your placement, in order to help fulfil the recommendations of your support plan.
Applying for DSA
Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) is a form of non-medical support from the government that can cover a variety of study-related costs. Although this support is not means-tested, you must be diagnosed with a disability, mental health problem or long-term illness to receive it. The support given varies from student to student depending on what their needs are. For example, for a student with dyslexia, they may receive a new laptop with software installed that assists them with study, or, a student with mobility issues may be able to have any taxi rides to and from the college paid for.
To be eligible for DSA, you must have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your ability to study.
For example a:
- specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia or ADHD
- mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression
- physical disability, for example if you have to use crutches, a wheelchair or a special keyboard
- sensory disability, for example if you’re visually impaired, deaf or have a hearing impairment
- long-term health condition, for example cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV
You must also:
- be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)
- qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
- be studying on a course that lasts at least a year
It is also important to note that you will not be eligible if you are:
- eligible for tuition fee-only funding
- eligible for NHS Disabled Students’ Allowances (this is a separate scheme)
- getting equivalent support from another funding source, like from your university or a social work bursary
- on a higher or degree apprenticeship course
Full-time undergraduate students who have applied for student finance online will be able to apply for DSA through the student finance website and account. Students who fall into the following categories will need to apply for DSA with a physical form:
- Part-time undergraduate students (with a DSA1 form)
- Post graduate students (with a DSA 1 form)
- All students who apply for student finance by post rather than online (with a DSA slim form)
Contact Information
If you would like to discuss your online application for DSA, please call the DSA at 0300 100 060.
Please do not hesitate to contact the team ([email protected]) if you have specific questions, or you can contact us here at NTC to arrange a visit and discuss your requirements ([email protected]).