Getting help with studies

FANTASTIC SUPPORT AND EXCELLENT FACILITIES THROUGH YOUR STUDIES.

As well as fantastic teachers and great facilities, City College Norwich also provides you with excellent personalised support throughout your course. Here are just some of the advantages of coming to City College Norwich.

A PERSONAL TUTOR

Your personal tutor is there to provide essential advice and guidance relating to your studies throughout the entire time of your course. As well as developing a professional relationship, it is likely that you will also have a more personal and friendly relationship with your tutor. This is important as it will ensure that you will have no qualms about approaching him or her any time you need help or advice. In the first few weeks of your course your tutor will introduce you to life at college and the facilities on offer. Regular meetings with your tutor are vital to your personal and educational development at the College. Throughout your programme your tutor will be monitoring your progress and encouraging you to do the same. You will meet your tutor for group activities, and also regularly on an individual basis.

PROMOTING ACHIEVEMENT IN LEARNING (PAL)

Your PAL contact is responsible for monitoring your attendance and punctuality, and they will help you to resolve any issues that you might face which affect your attendance. They will text you to wish you a speedy recovery if you are off sick from college. They will call you in the event that you are unable to attend your lessons and may contact your parents as well. They are really there to help you with the transition from school to college and to help you understand the importance of commitment to your course and your own personal development. They are always there in The Advice Shop or on the end of the phone if you need to chat about anything, they can help you get the support and one-to-one assistance you may need with any issue that could disrupt your studies.

ACCESS TO FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

City College Norwich will also enable you to pick up the English, maths and ICT skills – or ‘Functional Skills’ - you need for everyday life: at home, in education and at work. Employers and universities want to know that, whatever course you choose to do at college, when you leave you will have these skills, which are needed for you to be a confident, effective and independent individual. You will develop these skills within the course you are doing by using them in situations that are relevant to the course, but will also have the opportunity to have separate Functional Skills sessions with a specialist tutor who will help you develop the theory behind these skills.

STUDY SKILLS SUPPORT

In the Information Store (our Library) at City College Norwich will provide access to a fantastic range of resources to help you with your course, whether books, online resources, CDs, DVDs or magazines as well as 200 PCs including laptops all with internet access and a wide selection of software packages. As a student here at City College Norwich it is all free to use and you can borrow up to 20 items at one time. Subject specialist Learning Resources Advisers are able to offer one to one or group advice and support in making the most of the resources. You can also access free printing and photocopying, buy reduced cost stationery, CD-Rs, memory sticks and much more. Further support with literacy, numeracy and study skills including one-to-one help, study skills help sheets and resources are provided by Learning Facilitators, students can also access SpLD tutors who support specific learning differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. All this help and support is also available within the Information Store.

SUPPORT WITH ANY PERSONAL ISSUES

The Advice Shop can offer help, advice and counselling on a whole range of subjects, such as careers, financial advice, personal issues, accommodation and provides support for international students. They can also arrange for you to see a college counsellor if you want somewhere to talk over personal difficulties or dilemmas in a confidential, private and caring environment. The College’s chaplaincy is also available for all members of the College of any faith. Based in the West Lodge where there is also a Quiet Room where you can go just to collect your thoughts.

INCLUSIVE LEARNING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

We have a wide range of services and equipment to support students who have:

• Hearing loss
• Sight loss
• Physical disability
• Mental health difficulty
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders (eg Asperger Syndrome)
• Difficulty with literacy, numeracy or language
• Specific learning difficulty such as Dyslexia or Dyspraxia.

Support arrangements will be put in place following discussion with you and an adviser or tutor from the Inclusive Learning Support Team. This support will be reviewed with you regularly to ensure it is meeting your needs. For further information about support in college, please contact The Inclusive Learning Support Team on 01603 773 058 email: ILST@ccn.ac.uk or visit us opposite The Advice Shop. We can also send you a copy of the College's Disability Statement on request.