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Additional Learning Support

Our ALS team helps you reach your full potential and progress in your career. We support students across all College sites— in-class, outside the classroom, during exams, and in the wider College environment.

Support is tailored to your needs, ensuring you can access every opportunity and enjoy College. We assist students with all learning difficulties and disabilities. For more information, view our SEND Policy.

We take a person-centred approach, working with teaching staff, College services, and external organisations, including TIAG, CAMHS, SALT, SCI Team, Sensory Impairment Team, Education Psychology Service and SEND Improvement offices.

You can discuss your support needs before applying, at enrolment, or anytime during your course. Contact us at 01226 216 769, als@barnsley.ac.uk, or complete this form ALS 1.

What is the Local Offer?

Every Local Authority is required to publish information about services available for children and young people, from birth to 25, who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEN/D); and also services outside of the area in which they expect children and young people from their area will use. This is known as the ‘Local Offer’.

The Local Offer pulls together all the information about education, health and care services, leisure activities and support.

As part of the Local Offer, our support is regularly reviewed to foster independence.

For more information about what is available in Barnsley please follow the links:

  1. Barnsley College Local Offer
  2. BMBC Local Offer

Learning needs we support

We provide support for a wide range of learning needs and conditions, including:

  1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  2. Autism Spectrum Conditions
  3. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia
  4. Hearing Impairment
  5. Mental Health Conditions
  6. Physical Disability
  7. Visual Impairment
  8. Specific conditions/Disabilities

This list is not exhaustive. Please contact us if you have other needs, and we are here to help.

What support will I receive at College?

If you have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), ALS will produce a bespoke support plan (ALS 5) detailing your required support, subject to commissioning. This may include:

  1. In-class support
  2. Mobility support
  3. Note-taking
  4. Spell checker
  5. Modification of learning materials
  6. Personal care
  7. Lunchtime support
  8. Meet and greet
  9. Transition and orientation
  10. Exam access arrangements

If you don’t have an EHCP but still have SEND then ALS will produce a bespoke support plan (ALS5) outlining the support you need at College, delivered by your department.

Initial Assessment

After declaring a learning need and/or disability on your application form, ALS will contact you to organise an assessment. ALS will send out an ALS 1 Questionnaire and a confirmation letter with your appointment time, date and place. You or your parent/carer will need to fill in the ALS 1 Questionnaire with as much detail as possible before you return it to us.

At the initial assessment, an ALS Coordinator or SEN Advisor will discuss your learning needs and how to best support you whilst in College. During your initial assessment, the co-ordinator will use an ALS 3 to find out your about previous education and the support you had at school. ALS will produce a Support plan (ALS 5) outlining the support you need at College.

  1. ALS Assessment Process
  2. ALS Central Process

Transition to Barnsley College

The Additional Learning Support (ALS) team will help with your transition, no matter which course you start in September.

If you're considering studying with us, you can invite an ALS Coordinator to your Year 10 or 11 school reviews. They’ll explain our courses and the support available before and during your time at Barnsley College.

Visit us during Open Days to learn about our support. Once you apply, ALS can arrange campus tours of your chosen areas. After your interview, your department may offer summer taster days to give you an idea of your course.

To get a feel for the curriculum area you are looking at joining, take a look at our Transition Booklets.

Annual Reviews

Each year at College you will have an annual review of your EHCP.

At your review, there will be yourself and family members/advocate, TIAG, staff from the College and other professionals.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the progress you are making at College, your mid and long-term plans, what is working well, what you might require support with and your aspirations for the future.

We will also review your EHCP to see if anything needs updating and the meeting will take 1-2 hours.

Meet the ALS Co-ordinators

Sarah Bailey

Sarah has worked at Barnsley College since 2005 initially as a Learner Support Worker and as an Additional Learning Support Coordinator since 2012.

Sarah has worked in further education for 19 years supporting learners with additional needs. Previously, Sarah worked for Mencap as a support worker, supporting Adults with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities to live independently within the community.

Nikki Burton

Nikki has worked for the Additional Learning Support department at Barnsley College since 2014, holding eight years’ experience working with young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEN/D) attending mainstream education. In 2019, Nikki became Additional Learning Support Co-ordinator and oversees the support across the Construction, Engineering, Motor vehicle, Sports, Public Services and Travel and Tourism departments.

Beverley Hoskins

Bev has worked at Barnsley College since 2022 as an Additional Learning Support Coordinator. Bev has over 20 years’ experience working with young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN/D) in mainstream and specialist settings. This has been as a Support worker, Teacher and SEN Officer. Before this, she worked in adult education, teaching adults to access learning. Bev currently overseas the support for Art and Design, Catering, performing Arts and music.

Leona Green

Leona has worked at Barnsley College since 2014 as the SEN Advisor with the Additional Support Team. She has previously worked as Support Co-ordinator for support staff in the LfLW Department at Barnsley College and prior to that has worked with children and young people in her role as trainer at Aspire Training and Family Support Worker at Family Action Barnsley. Her experience includes working with children, young people and their families to help support behavioural, SEMH and learning difficulties.

Nicola Spokes

Nicola has worked at Barnsley College since 2016 as a Additional Learning Support Coordinator. Nicola has worked in further education for 17 years working as a support worker and then as a Learning difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) tutor for 12 years .In addition to her teaching role she was Curriculum Leader of the department for 6 years. Previous to this she worked in the care sector as Senior Care assistant in a residential home for the Elderly.

Leeanne Taylor

Leeanne has worked at Barnsley College since October 2011, she started working as a Support worker, supporting learners who have additional learning needs. In March 2017 Leeanne started working as the SEND Administrator for ALS where she arranges reviews and consultations for learners with EHCP’s. In October 2021, Leeanne progressed in the department as a Support Coordinator and overseas the support for Childcare and Health and Social care.