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Academic Support
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How the ALN Service Works

Contents:

Prospective students

When a prospective ALN student contacts the University and has declared their ALN they will be sent a pack by the Additional Learning Needs Service. This will include:

  • ALN summary of needs questionnaire
  • Confidentiality form
  • University statement of the services and support available to ALN students
  • Information about the Disabled Students' Allowance

Students will be asked to complete and return the summary of needs questionnaire to the Additional Learning Needs Service. Packs are sent to students throughout the academic year.

ALN students with high support needs normally contact the University before deciding on whether or not to accept a place if offered. When this occurs the ALN service will arrange a prospective visit and invite the Programme Leader and Administrator to attend.

Once a student has started a University course, they normally approach the ALN Service to follow up on support previously agreed or to implement support needed to assist them with their studies.

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Assessment and screening

The Additional Learning Needs Service offers a screening and diagnostic assessment service to students who believe they might have a specific learning difficulty/difference, e.g. dyslexia.

Please see the flowchart: The process for screening and assessing students for specific learning difficulties (PDF 14kb) to see how students are assessed.

We use a number of independent Educational Psychologists to assess our students.

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Exam support

The Additional Learning Needs Service and Registry collaborate to provide special arrangements for students with specific needs during exam time. This could involve extra time or the one-to-one support of a scribe or reader.

If at any time you feel that any of your students might need support during exams (or during their studies in general), please encourage them to contact us for an appointment.

They can come to see us in Learning Support, Room DLG17, The Sir Michael Cobham Library, or they can phone us – 01202 965663

The earlier students notify us of their need for specific arrangements, the more likely it is that these arrangements can be put in place. It is very difficult to make provision for last-minute requests for help from students. Each year ALN will agree with the Registry a deadline for requests (usually sometime in April), after which there can be no guarantee of specific support being available.

Deadline for 2006/7 requests will be posted here in due course:

Type of exam support

  • For students who have been granted extra time and/or rest breaks – exams will be taken in the ALN rooms
  • For students who have been granted the use of a PC - exams may be taken in a PC Lab or an office
  • For students who have been assigned a scribe to type their answers, or a reader - exams may be taken in an office or room alone
  • Registry will book appropriate rooms, timetable readers, scribes and sitters

Checking on registered support

  • Staff may refer to the ALN-School Memorandum held on the student’s file in the School. The memo is completed by ALNS (and sent to the course administrator) when a student has submitted evidence of an ALN. Registry also have a copy on file. See Factsheets below

Temporary injury or illness

If a student sustains an injury (e.g. broken arm) that affects their ability to write or to take an exam under normal conditions, they will need to bring to Learning Support a letter from their GP or medical specialist.

We will recommend appropriate support of a temporary nature.

If a student is unwell but is able to sit their exams, we may recommend special arrangements (separate room, extra time, rest breaks etc), on production of a medical certificate or GP letter.

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What to do if you think a student has an ALN

You could discuss this either with the individual on a one-to-one basis or with colleagues within your School. If after a discussion with the student you feel the student should seek support, please provide the individual with the contact details for the ALN service. Alternatively, if the student consents, you may contact the ALN team on his or her behalf. Once the ALN service has received an enquiry or request for support we will contact the student and make the necessary arrangements.

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What to do if one of your students discloses in confidence that they have an ALN

If a student discloses an ALN in confidence it is important to discuss with them why they wish for confidentiality to be maintained. It may be because of a previous unsatisfactory educational experience or because they feel they already have enough support in place. Whilst discussing the confidentiality request, it is important to highlight the support available from the School or Support Services if they choose to disclose, and that assistance may be limited if confidentiality is requested.

If after discussion with the student they still request confidentiality, it is important to respect this. It is advisable to record the request for confidentiality, and to check with the student each academic year to see if they still require knowledge of their ALN to remain confidential.

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How are ALN students supported at the Partner Colleges?

Each Partner College is responsible for the provision of advice and support to its ALN students, including those studying BU programmes there.

The ALN Team at BU includes a member of staff with specific responsibility for supporting ALN staff in the Partner Colleges.

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ALN factsheets for staff

What is the Additional Learning Needs School Memorandum? - Information for Staff (PDF 27kb)

Process for Screening and Assessing Students for Specific Learning Difficulties (PDF 14kb)

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