Please be aware that the top of Harrisons Lane is currently closed to traffic due to ongoing works. If you are travelling to our Halesworth Campus, please seek alternative routes to avoid delays.
At Suffolk New College, we welcome learners with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and have high aspirations for every student. We are proud of the support we provide to help learners thrive both academically and socially.
Support is available in the classroom and beyond, including help with exams and assessments, as well as guidance in the wider college environment. Our goal is to ensure every learner feels included, supported, and able to achieve their ambitions.
Our Additional Learning Support (ALS) Team offers tailored advice and guidance to meet a wide range of needs, including:
We work closely with local authorities and schools to make sure learners with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) have the right support in place to achieve their goals and career aspirations.
LSPs work directly with learners in the classroom and around the college to make sure they can fully access their courses and college life. They provide practical, day-to-day support tailored to individual needs, which may include:
LSPs are often the familiar face learners see every day, offering reassurance and guidance to help them succeed.
The LSP Team Leaders manage the Learning Support Practitioners across all campuses to ensure that students with additional needs get the support they require to succeed academically and socially.
Our Learning Support Practitioners help students with a wide range of additional needs, such as learning difficulties, disabilities, mental health challenges, or language barriers to fully access their courses and college life, as well as work on outcomes on their EHCPs.
It could also mean supporting with medical needs when necessary, this could involve storing and administering medication, providing personal care and ensuring the student’s safety at college.
As part of the role, we liaise with all staff who teach/support the student and provide strategies to support the student’s additional needs. We complete initial assessments of students and can provide transition visits before the students start at college. We are part of a team that aims to provide an excellent student experience with appropriate support in place.
SEND Officers co-ordinate and chair Annual Review meetings for EHCP learners. We also coordinate any follow-ups from the review meetings. We are a point of contact for EHCP learners and their families throughout the year to ensure lines of communication are in place and relevant support is being provided. We liaise with teaching staff, support teams, local authorities, external agencies and families to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Our role is to assess students to see if they meet the threshold for receiving additional support for their exams.
We have specialised qualifications required by the exam boards to allow us to undertake these assessments. We also have to undertake annual training to ensure that we are aware of the most current requirements and guidance from the exam boards.
Here at SNC we are able to assess for exam concessions as well as honouring those from previous settings if they are still valid. To make the transition as smooth as possible it is useful to have your own copy of the form 8 or form 9 from your previous setting. At enrolment, please bring with you any evidence you have eg relevant medical diagnoses, valid form 8/9 from previous setting.
Exam concessions can be given to any age of learner even if you have never had concessions previously. If you feel you may need additional support in your exams, please speak to your tutor who may be able to put in a referral for you to be assessed.
Please note that coloured paper can only be supplied for exams on confirmation from previous settings or on receipt of a diagnosis / prescription confirming a condition requiring coloured paper. If access to a mobile phone app during exams is a requirement (i.e. for diabetes) then we will require formal medical confirmation of the condition.
Any queries for exam concessions, please email examconcessions@suffolk.ac.uk
We provide support both in the classroom and outside of lessons. This includes help with learning tasks, communication, social interaction, personal care, medical needs, and exam access arrangements. Our aim is to ensure learners can fully access their courses and college life.
Our Learning Support Practitioners (LSPs) work directly with learners in the classroom and around the college. They provide practical, tailored support to help learners succeed academically and socially.
We offer transition visits before the start of term and complete initial assessments to understand each learner’s needs. This helps us put the right support in place from day one.
If you have any questions about the support we offer, please email ALS@suffolk.ac.uk
We work closely with local authorities, schools, and families to make sure EHCP outcomes are met. Our SEND Officers coordinate annual reviews and act as a point of contact throughout the year.
Yes. Our Exam Access Arrangements Assessors review whether learners meet the criteria for additional exam support, such as extra time or assistive technology. These assessments follow strict exam board guidelines.
Where necessary, our team can assist with storing and administering medication, providing personal care, and ensuring safety while at college.
If you have any queries regarding the support our team can offer, please email ALS@suffolk.ac.uk
