Local Offer

Funding will be allocated on the basis of need, with students being funded through their local authority’s High Needs Additional Learning Support Fund. Other identified needs will be met through Element 2 of the Education Skills Funding Agency allocation.

We will attend your young person’s Year 11 annual review and meet with you and your young person to discuss the appropriate level of support. The College will also receive your young person’s EHCP through formal consultation with your local authority. This will enable us to ascertain whether we would be a suitable environment for your young person and whether the College would be able to meet the needs outlined. The decision concerning the appropriate level of support will be taken collaboratively. Support will be monitored and may be increased or decreased after review. However, changes will only be applied following a consultation with you and your young person.

We encourage quality communication with parents and young people to ensure a holistic approach to supporting the education journey. The aim of a Further Education college is to enhance and support the development of an individual’s independence to optimum levels, preparing them for the world of work and/or for further study.

We use many different methods to establish whether students have special education needs and/or disabilities. Before starting college, we will talk to you and your young person about all relevant support needs. Your local authority will then provide us with your young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) if they have one in place, which will inform us about their needs.  Your local authority will then consult with us, and we will decide whether those needs can be met through our provision and resources.

Prospective students and parents are welcome to attend Brockenhurst College Open Events to talk informally with a range of specialist staff. We will also attend Year 11 annual reviews of pupils with SEND (if invited). Above all, we will work closely with you, your young person, their school and any other stakeholders to ensure the transition to college is planned thoroughly in order to meet individual needs. All prospective students participate in an initial assessment and interview process that will ensure they are placed on an appropriate programme of study.

A Further Education college is responsible for ensuring there are appropriate arrangements in place to support your young person’s transition from school. We will work with schools, local authorities, you as a parent/carer and your young person, providing a holistic and collaborative approach to transition.

The Learning Support Team can also be contacted to discuss your young person’s transition from school to college. This could lead to opportunities to attend orientation visits with the Learning Support team, as well as meetings to discuss available support and the possibility of attending taster days.  In addition, we provide supported provision on Freshers’ Day (end of Summer Term) if needed, and during the Enrolment process (end of August) if requested. Importantly, learners will be offered support on these days to alleviate any anxieties associated with the transition.

We have a team of Learning Support Assistants working across the College to provide additional support where appropriate. Furthermore, all students have access to our Skills Development Team. This is a team of specialist tutors who provide one-to-one study skills support and facilitate exam access arrangements. This team works with students across all levels of study.

All teachers are required to differentiate their teaching to meet the specific needs of students in their groups. Additional specialist support needs such as Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) will be incorporated into individual Study Programmes. Provision identified that is not available at Brockenhurst College and would need to be outsourced to external agencies does not form part of our offer. In exceptional cases, and at the discretion of the College, such provision may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such provision will be considered with regard to a number of factors, including but not limited to, the likelihood of successful outcomes and integration with the College’s existing curriculum. Please note that we are unable to offer distance learning to young people who are unable to attend campus.

Subject teachers and tutors will be your first point of contact should you wish to discuss your young person’s progress. You will receive regular Progress Checks from the College and will be able to attend Parents’ Evenings, where you can discuss progress with teachers.  All parents/carers will have the opportunity to access our online Parent Portal at any time.

Subject teachers and tutors will be happy to discuss the overall wellbeing of your young person and will arrange a meeting with you and your young person whenever appropriate. Meetings will cover any concerns you may have regarding attendance and/or engagement. Meanwhile, tutors will support any learner wishing to progress to university, providing independent advice and guidance around Higher Education course options and assisting students with their UCAS applications. Further guidance is available from the Careers Leader and our team of Progression Advisors. All students are expected to attend weekly tutorials with their tutors. These represent a key component of any learner’s Study Programme. Tutorials are one of the ways that enable us to disseminate information regarding progression, exams, support, safeguarding and current affairs.

The College operates a supportive and informal support-based approach to maximise the progress of its learners. At times, learners may be subject to stages outlined in the Learner Behaviour and Disciplinary Policy and require formal support and intervention.  If we are concerned about the attendance and/or progression of a student in receipt of an EHCP and their place is considered to be at risk, the College will inform parents/carers, the local authority and any other agencies providing support.

Our Pastoral and Welfare Manager is the allocated staff member supporting looked-after young people, care leavers, young carers and those who live independently. This person also oversees the wellbeing of students with mental health needs. In addition, the College has a designated teacher for looked-after children.

During students’ transition to Brockenhurst College, we work closely with all stakeholders to identify students with intensive support needs. This information is then discreetly placed in our systems to ensure that all academic and support staff are aware of a learner’s individual learning and wellbeing needs.  This represents a coordinated approach that promotes success for students who have medical, emotional, financial and/or behavioural needs affecting their education and/or social inclusion. Our experience tells us that such students may require intense and frequent support to remove barriers that may interfere with the achievement of their educational goals.

We also provide an underpinning universal support system that is maintained by the Pastoral and Welfare team and academic staff to optimise progress and achievement. Allocated members of the Intensive Support Team liaise with relevant external agencies to ensure we continue to provide individuals with the appropriate level of support. The Intensive Support team comprises the following members of staff: Pastoral & Welfare Manager, Head of Curriculum (Foundation Studies & Independence) Safeguarding & Welfare Lead, Learning Difficulties & Disabilities Manager/Assistant LDD Manager, College Nurse, College Counsellor, Finance & Welfare Officer, Student Liaison & Security Officer, and Student Liaison & Wellbeing Support Officers.

Please note that our College Nurse can administer certain medicines and can securely store personal medication at our Medical Room. Please contact the College Nurse on the number provided at the end of this document to discuss any medicines or necessary arrangements.

College Counsellors provide a confidential counselling service and are there to help with life’s unexpected issues. They are experts in helping explore ways to overcome problems and offer tools to enable students to move forward.

Brockenhurst College has a statutory and moral duty to ensure it functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults accessing education, training and other activities at the College. This includes the Prevent Duty, which is a government initiative designed to ensure all students and staff are protected from the risks of radicalisation.

The LDD Manager/Assistant LDD Manager and Head of Curriculum (Foundation Studies & Independence) undertake annual reviews for young people that are in receipt of an EHCP. This will provide both you and your young person with the opportunity to discuss current progress and to review support if necessary. Invitations to participate will be sent to external agencies providing support if relevant.

The Lodge is a modest dwelling space that students in receipt of an EHCP can access. It is staffed by members of our Learning Support team for learners on a mainstream programme from 8.30am – 4:20pm, five days a week, including break and lunchtimes. Students may use this facility during these times if we decide an additional space should be provided. The team at The Lodge offer the students opportunities to engage in social activities and develop skills by participating in daily chores. There are also dedicated social spaces in the Foundation and Independence Hub, staffed by the Learning Support team, where learners can engage with social activities.

The Skills Development team can make exam access arrangements, discuss assistive technology, and offer specialist tuition to students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. Learning Support staff are suitably qualified and provided with specialist training during the academic year from both external and internal trainers. The Learning Support team also liaises with Specialist Teacher Advisors within local authorities to support students and deliver staff training.

The College continually evaluates the training needs of its staff in order to fully respond to the needs of the student population. Examples of training include ELSA, Mental Health First Aid, safeguarding training, sensory processing, ASC, ELKLAN speech and language, Makaton, cognitive behaviour approaches, and invigilation training to support students with their exams.

Brockenhurst College is an inclusive education setting and every effort is made to include students in activities relevant to their course and curriculum. This inclusion may be achieved through the support of a Learning Support Assistant. Support is arranged on the basis of individual need.

Our main campus in Brockenhurst is wheelchair accessible. There are also dedicated hoisting, changing, showering and toilet facilities for students with disabilities.

We work with parents/carers and young people to identify and address needs in collaboration with other services where necessary.

Whether it be university, an apprenticeship or employment, our students are supported to make informed decisions about their progression through our curriculum delivery, tutorial and Next Steps programmes. This includes one-to-one impartial information, advice and guidance from a careers advisor. Meanwhile, we ensure access to a range of workshops, talks, presentations and other events. We offer students work experience and industrial placement opportunities from our directory of employers, and our careers programme adheres to the criteria set out by the Gatsby Benchmarks. In addition, we are pleased to hold the Matrix Standard for the quality of our information, advice and guidance. We are also pleased to be accredited with The Quality in Careers Standard.

We are passionate about supporting our learners’ progression into Higher Education and/or employment. Throughout their Study Programmes, we aim to equip students with all of the necessary skills, knowledge and experiences to make a successful transition to the workplace.