Spurgeon’s College is committed to offering equal opportunities in teaching and learning to all students who choose to study at the college. In pursuit of this goal, the Learning Enhancement Department seeks to provide support for students who experience difficulties with their studies or have a physical or mental health disability or specific learning need such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. In addition, we offer assistance to students whose specific learning needs become apparent during the course of their studies to pursue an external assessment of their particular learning difficulties. We also provide support to any student for whom English is not their first language.
The Learning Enhancement Department has a designated Learning Enhancement Co-ordinator whose role is to offer information and advice to and liaise with all teaching staff on behalf of any individual student, as well as to provide general guidance on the teaching of students with a learning difficulty or disability. The Learning Enhancement Co-ordinator and a team of volunteers offer students regular one-to-one assistance with any aspect of academic study that they may experience difficulties with: essay writing, reading, notetaking, referencing and footnoting, digital skills, revision and assessment etc. Weekly drop-in sessions are also provided where students may obtain support on a more ad hoc basis.
Students who have a physical or mental health disability or learning difficulty such as dyslexia are provided with a Student Learning Profile at the beginning of each academic year. The profile highlights a student’s strengths and difficulties, and suggests strategies which teaching staff might implement in their teaching of the individual student to support them with their learning. Each Profile is circulated amongst the teaching staff at the beginning of every academic year or whenever a student’s learning difficulties are identified during their studies at the college.
All new students to the college who have specific learning needs, physical or mental health disabilities are encouraged to make contact with the Learning Enhancement Department at the beginning of their studies so that an appropriate support programme may be put in place as soon as possible.
