We want to make sure that every students get the best out of their time at NCL. By telling us about your disability or additional support needs as early as possible, we can identify any support that you might need, including any financial support you may be entitled to.
Applicants can choose to disclose via you course application form. Students who choose to disclose via their application will be contacted by our Educational Learning Support team. We can then start to discuss what support or adjustments you think you will need.
Our ELS team is committed to providing high quality support to meet your learning needs. Our aim is to identify and provide appropriate support measures which will aid, develop and encourage you to fulfil your academic potential.
We can offer a wide range of support measures and have specific resources available to assist NCL students with:
• Learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia
• Physical disability
• Mobility difficulties
• Sensory impairment
• Health problems
• Mental health problems
• Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties
• English language support
• Any other issue impacting on their studies
To find out more about how we can support you during your studies, please keep on reading.
If you are currently studying with us please take some time to complete our online referral form.
The Educational Learning Support team works across New College Lanarkshire with staff based in Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.
The support you can expect to receive from the team includes having a named Educational Support Advisor (ESA), who will liaise with teaching and other support teams as appropriate to ensure a co-ordinated approach to support your learning.
Your named ESA can also arrange classroom and communication support, as well as equipment and assistive technology that may benefit your studies.
If you would like to develop your reading, writing or number skills, or your ESOL literacy skills, you should contact one of our Adult Literacy & Numeracy (ALN) Development Workers. Support is available throughout the summer to prepare you for your chosen course, or you can contact them at any time during your studies.
Everyone has their own target and level of skills, which is why they will work with you to create your own personal learning plan. If you wish to find out more about this service and how it can help you, you should email:
If you have disclosed an additional support need, you will be invited to meet with one of our Educational Support Advisers to talk about your individual support needs. Your Educational Support Adviser can help you to decide what support and technology you may need and arrange this for you. As you go through your course this may change to match your needs.
The Educational Support Adviser can also:
If you require AAs you must have completed a Personal Learning Support Plan (PLSP) with an ESA. You may have to supply supporting evidence of your need(s), this will be discussed with you. Once AAs are agreed, it is your responsibility to:
Please remember that, AAs available can differ depending on the subject of your assessment (i.e core skills assessments).
If you are studying at HNC level or above and have a diagnosed disability, you may be eligible to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). DSA is a no income assessed allowance to cover any extra costs or expenses you might have while studying, which arise because of your disability.
If you would like to find out more about applying for DSA, you should discuss this with your Educational Support Adviser. They will be able to advise you on your eligibility to apply and the evidence you will require. If an application is made for Disabled Students’ Allowance we will arrange for you to attend a needs assessment and will ensure that all relevant documentation is sent to SAAS on your behalf.
If it has been agreed that you require classroom support, such as note-taking, reading, scribing, prompting, or if you have booked assessment arrangements, this will be organised by a Senior Classroom Support Worker.
We will liaise with your class lecturer and Educational Support Adviser to ensure that assessment arrangements such as a reader/scribe, the use of ICT or screen reading software is in place for you.
The role of the CLSW is to help promote equal access within the College for students with additional support needs.
A CLSW will:
A CLSW will not:
At New College Lanarkshire, our team of COSWs work with D/deaf learners and hearing impaired learners. If you have disclosed on your application form that you are deaf or have a serious hearing impairment you will be contacted by an Educational Support Adviser to find out if you will require communication support at your needs assessment interview. Communication support can also be arranged for your course interview as well.
If you require communication support for your timetabled classes, you should remember that your COSW will:
Your COSW will not:
While we cannot guarantee that you will have the same COSW all the time, we will try to make sure you work with the same person for each subject where possible.
You do not need to book a COSW for your normal timetable. However you do have to notify us of timetable changes and book support for meetings, assessments, visits to the college nurse and to access other college support services. You should aim to notify us one week before you need support.
Want to get in touch to discuss your learning needs or book an appointment with a member of the team? Here's how you can reach us.
