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Statement of Services, Information, Advice & Guidance

Information, Advice and Guidance is an integral part of the student experience at Suffolk New College.

Our aim is to provide high quality impartial information, advice, guidance and support at all relevant stages of the student journey to enable students to make informed choices about post-16 education or training, and once on programme to make exceptional progress and secure positive destinations in employment or further study.

Who Can Access Our Services?

Our clients (including but not limited to)

  • Current students
  • Potential students
  • Students from partner organisations
  • Employers
  • Parents/guardians/carers
  • Client supporters
A school leaver reading business book in the learning curve

Our Staff

  • Our staff have all had an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and are well qualified, holding appropriate professional qualifications and training.
  • A culture of continuous professional development enables staff to regularly update skills and knowledge to provide current and relevant information, advice, guidance and support.
A student support advisor talking to a school leaver or current learner

What We Provide/Our Service

  • Free, impartial high quality advice and guidance for all potential students through a range of activity including, regular open events throughout the year, providing Taster opportunities, pro-active engagement with local schools and providers, transition days, and small group or 1:1 support/intervention in schools.
  • Information on all courses and opportunities via our website.
  • Tutorial and pastoral support for all full-time students on-programme throughout their studies to promote learning, progress and personal development.
  • Learning support for students with high level or complex learning needs or disabilities.
  • Workshops or 1:1 sessions to help with UCAS applications; CVs, career choices and interview skills
  • Curriculum specific information, advice and guidance regarding employability and further study options, includes trips to employers and visits to Universities
  • Cross college employability days with key local employers attending to share their experiences and information about careers with students
  • Work related learning/work experience opportunities to help prepare students for the next steps/employment.
  • Advice about financial support for course fees, childcare, transport and support for learning.
  • Support for vulnerable students. (clients/customers are welcome to bring along a support person to any guidance appointments).
  • Referral and signposting to relevant agencies as appropriate.
  • Written/Electronic records of guidance interviews to enable us to help our customers and to provide evidence for funding purposes?
  • Where appropriate, provide an action plan, following 1:1 appointment.

IAG Objectives and Key Performance Measures

  • Provide a service which is student centred and solution focussed
  • Provide a service which is flexible and pro-active, and which meets student needs
  • To use information about students objectively to inform the support and guidance provided
  • To work collaboratively with students to review progress, plan next steps and strategies to achieve these
  • To collaborate with external partners to share information appropriately both ways in the interest of securing high quality outcomes for the students
  • To listen to feedback and pro-actively respond in the spirit of continuous improvement

We ask our customers to

  • Treat our staff and other clients with respect at all times
  • Attend any pre-arranged appointments as agreed or to notify us where this is not possible
  • Feel confident to ask questions at any stage in the knowledge that staff will have a simple and clear explanation and plan to help.
  • Inform the college of any specific needs prior to appointment, where possible.

Confidentiality

We will treat all personal information in confidence. All records, electronic and paper based are only accessed by staff who may need to see the information as part of their work. Suffolk New College complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Equality and Diversity

Suffolk New College welcomes enquiries from all people regardless of their age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, disability, marital status or background.

Feedback and Comments

To help us continuously improve our service, we welcome feedback from users of the service. Students’ views are sought regularly throughout their time at the college through surveys, forums and Student Parliament

We also welcome comments from visitors to the college on what we have done well or could do better. Comments can be made by completing the “How did we do?” card provided at reception.