We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities, recognising that a disability can affect people in different ways. We encourage people with disabilities to make relevant staff aware of their needs so that full and appropriate support may be provided.

We are very pleased to have had the opportunity, in partnership with DisabledGo, to improve further our support for disabled members of the College community.

Hearing impaired/deaf
Loop systems are installed at reception desks in the Main Building, The Guidance Suite and the Sports and Tennis Centre. The Robinson Theatre, College Hall, The Colin Hill Recital Room, Science Lecture Room in The Rob Wilkinson Building and Sports Hall in the Sports and Tennis Centre are also equipped with a loop system. Additional communication support can be organised by arrangement with trained staff from the Study Skills Centre.

Visually impaired/blind
Trained staff from the Study Skills Centre provide specialist support to visually impaired students. They arrange for course materials and handouts to be produced in suitable formats - such as audiotapes, Braille and large print and, where appropriate, they support students during their lessons.

Specific learning difficulties
Staff from the Study Skills Centre have experience of supporting students with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and other conditions within the Autistic Spectrum, such as Asperger’s Syndrome.

Due to the nature of the site, access to some areas of the College is limited.
Aids to accessibility
Most ground floors are accessible via power assisted doors. A number of lifts give access to most upper floors and classrooms. Wherever possible, given prior notification, adjustments will be made to facilitate individual needs.
Site plan
The site plan indicates lift locations, accessible toilets, those entrance doors which have level thresholds, enabling access for wheel chairs, and wheelchair routes throughout the College. For more detailed information about accessibility, please visit the College's section of the Disabled Go site via the useful link.

The first source of advice, guidance and support for a student with a mental health disability is normally his or her tutor. In addition, the College’s Student Guidance Officer offers initial, short-term counselling to students on request. If a student wishes to explore the possibility of referral to an external counsellor, this can be raised in complete confidence with his or her tutor or with the Student Guidance Officer.
If appropriate, the College will provide the name and telephone number of an external counsellor and will also finance up to six counselling sessions. Counselling is confidential and there is no contact between the College and counsellor other than to check whether or not a student has attended. The College does not inform parents about such referrals.

The Study Skills Centre
The Study Skills Centre has a wide variety of resources to help students with their learning needs. Qualified staff are available to carry out assessments, to diagnose specific learning difficulties and then to offer appropriate support.
Individual and small group support is available for a variety of needs: students working in a second language, handwriting, time management, essay writing, concentration and motivation. Self-help books, free advice leaflets, videos and computer programmes are also available. The Centre maintains a wide range of contacts with specialists such as educational psychologists, the Hearing Impaired Service, and the Visually Impaired Service. To contact the Study Skills Centre, telephone 01223 247251 ext. 1458.