College "one-stop shop" Learner Services

Llandrillo College has developed Learner Services to provide a totally integrated learning support service to staff and students. It encompasses advice and guidance, library, IT Workshop, Learning Centre, Media Services (printing, equipment and stationery services), key and basic skills support, learning support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, teacher training, flexible and open learning, information and learning technology developments, adult basic education (literacy and numeracy), counselling and childcare facilities.

The college has an inclusive learning policy that endeavours to provide facilities and support tailored to the individual needs of each student. A large number of staff attended a residential conference on Inclusive Learning with national speakers and working groups on key topics. This resulted in an action plan for Inclusive Learning and an Inclusive Learning Project now in progress, which targets specific courses at entry and foundation level where students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are generally infilled and which have a high proportion of disaffected and disadvantaged students.

Staff and students are able to comment on the levels of service provided by Learner Services via staff and student questionnaires and user/consultative groups, such as the Library Support Group and the Learning Support Consultative Committee. A self-assessment is carried out by staff on an annual basis using data from these sources and others such as external verifier and curriculum area self-assessment reports.

The service provides a more coherent approach for staff and students and was considered necessary because of the rising demand caused by changing clientele in Further Education – growth in numbers of lower ability students, long term unemployed, and national initiatives such as the need to improve basic and key skills. The services are expensive to provide, but are necessary to maintain the college at the leading edge of developments and to ensure that it achieves the enrolment, retention and attainment rates, which have made it successful over the last few years.

In the last 2 years Learner Services has been awarded Beacon awards sponsored by the Association of Colleges for the quality of its Information and Learning Technology staff development programme and Inclusive Learning (for the Vocational Preparation course for adults with severe learning difficulties.

Organisation

Llandrillo College
Learner Services
Llandudno Road
Rhos-on-Sea
Colwyn Bay
LL28 4HZ

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