Additional Needs and Disabilities

ACM

Our Additional Needs and Disabilities (AND) Department is led by a friendly and approachable team who are able to assist all students with additional learning needs or disabilities, physical impairments or long term health conditions.

Students are encouraged to disclose any additional needs or disabilities on enquiry, through the application process, or prior to application. This is to ensure that we are able to provide early advice; discuss reasonable adjustments and support a smooth transition. If ACM has the capacity and resources available to deliver the appropriate provision for your needs, and you meet the entry requirements of your chosen course, your additional needs will not hold you back from enrolment.

Where an additional need arises during studies, students are encouraged to disclose these as soon as possible by contacting the Additional Needs and Disabilities Team.

While an official diagnosis or professional reports are useful for describing provision and support suggestions, we understand that not all students have these. Whether you have a new diagnosis, historical documentation or you are undiagnosed, we can support you through your studies by applying reasonable adjustments. Higher levels of support may require additional evidence; however, every student has the right to access reasonable adjustments.

Diploma Students

If you are studying on one of our further education courses (diplomas), you can get help in a variety of ways.

Transition Support

Bespoke tours, workshops and summer transition days can be helpful for students who need extra time to adjust to a new environment. Prior to enrolment, students with additional needs are invited to a pre-induction event. This has been developed to alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding the first day at college.

Tutor awareness

We will discreetly share relevant information about your additional needs with your tutors. This will enable them to communicate and support you in the way that is most beneficial.

Reasonable Adjustments

We can ensure your classes and assessments take into consideration your additional needs by making reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments are implemented on an individual basis as needs vary from person to person. These can include, but are not limited to: movement breaks in lessons; use of eardefenders; coloured overlays, filters or printing on coloured paper; scaffolding resources and additional tutor check-ins.

Exam Access Arrangements

If you are retaking your GCSE English or maths, you may be entitled to access arrangements e.g extra time, scribe, reader, separate room etc. Early discussions about access arrangements in your previous settings are key to ensuring these are in place as part of your normal way of working, as well as in the formal exams. If you have not had exam access arrangements before, but feel that you would benefit from these, speak to the GCSE tutors or GCSE co-ordinator as soon as possible.

For further information about GCSE exam access arrangements, please see the JCQ website: JCQ Access Arrangements

SENLead

Our SENLead coordinates support for students with special educational needs and disabilities. They liaise with parents/carers, tutors and other professionals to meet the individual needs of learners.

Regular staff training is delivered by the SENLead where resources and best practices are shared with the wider teaching team.

For students with EHCP’s (Educational Health Care Plans), the SENLead will monitor your progress, attainment and attendance and collate the information for your Annual Review, which can be used to change the level of provision when appropriate.

The SENLead can offer advice and support for families seeking an EHCP or diagnosis.

Learning Support Officer

Our Learning Support Officer is available to provide academic advice and support to all students. They monitor progress and can arrange regular check-ins for identified students. They are also able to assist with time management, organisation and planning. In addition to this, they are able to provide 1:1 campus tours with prospective students and families in order to discuss the setting, course requirements and reasonable adjustments that can be made to support learning.

Learning Support Assistants

Learning Support Assistants provide additional in-class academic support (which may be on a 1:1 or 1:2 basis) for students with EHCP’s (Educational Health Care Plans). These staff are allocated to specific students through local authority funding; however, they are sometimes placed in classes needing additional support.

During Independent Study times, LSAs can provide project support for students who are struggling, need extra time to complete tasks, or find organisation difficult. Students can contact any member of the AND Team to enquire about these sessions. However, they are usually organised by the SENLead after referrals have been made by Lead Tutors.

Degree Students

Students who are studying a higher education course (degree) are encouraged to meet with the AND Team and to apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), if they have an additional need.

Book an AND Meeting Here

DSA is a government allowance which may help to fund additional support in the form of equipment, software/hardware, and potentially in private (not in the classroom) 1 : 1 support. You do not need to pay DSA back.

The application process can be done online through your online Student Finance account, selecting the option to apply for additional support. ACM’s Disability Support Officer can help you to apply. For more information go to www.yourdsa.com or gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas.

Qualifying for DSA

To show that you qualify for DSA you will need to provide evidence that you have:

A disability,
Medical condition,
Sensory impairment,
Physical disability,
Mental health condition, or
A specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) which affects your ability to study.

This can be in the form of a doctor's letter or proof of a diagnostic assessment.

Study Needs Assessment

Once your application for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) has been accepted they will invite you to Study Needs Assessment. The assessor will discuss what support, resources, equipment might be available. This could include:

1:1 Study skills tutors
Mentors
Laptop
Adaptive software
Printing costs
Travel allowance
Accommodation top up

ACM offers remote DSA study skills and mentoring to all three campuses but face to face appointments in Guildford. At Birmingham and London face to face support may be offered by an outside agency, also arranged through your DSA. If you think you may benefit from DSA please do not hesitate to get in touch with the AND department who will help you with your application.

Reasonable Adjustments

Following the disclosure of additional needs, the Additional Needs and Disability Department arranges and puts into place necessary reasonable adjustments for students during their time at ACM. An example of this is making sure that assignments are not marked down for spelling and grammar for dyslexia students.

Most students with identified additional needs will be entitled to receive reasonable adjustments such as additional support or adjustments to examinations such as extra time.

Student Testimonials

“Worked on - so much, just so much. To go from where I was to where I am now that’s been the biggest thing. You helped me to work through the worst of times.”

— Christian

“The best thing is picking up on my dyslexia and dyspraxia. And realising I am intelligent.”

— Georgie

“I just want to say I am so grateful to you for everything you helped me with. I enjoyed our 1 to 1 talks not just about assignments but also just normal everyday stuff. I hope I pass my assignments but even if I don't I would never have made it this far without your help.”

— Will

Email: and@acm.ac.uk

Tel: 01483 500 800