Oldham College has a highly-trained and award-winning Additional Learning Support (ALS) team, who are experienced in supporting people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, as well as working with other professionals to provide the most effective support.

As soon as an application has been submitted, our dedicated team can start to work with current support providers to make the transfer to college as easy as possible. We offer full transition for students new to college, which may include a range of opportunities including taster days.

Who do we support?

The ALS team supports learners who have:

  • ADD or ADHD
  • Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
  • Epilepsy or conditions that require the administration of rescue medicines
  • Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or Dyscalculia
  • Difficulties with maths & English
  • Emotional, behavioural and social difficulties
  • A hearing impairment
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Mobility difficulties
  • Personal care needs
  • A visual impairment
  • A wide range of different disabilities and health conditions that require some form of additional support.

What can we offer?

Following an assessment of learning needs and requirements, the ALS team will provide an individual plan. The types of support this team can provide include:

  • Support in class
  • Dyslexia support
  • Specialist 1:1 additional support sessions
  • Small group workshops
  • Study skills support
  • Adaptation/modification of learning materials into an accessible format such as Braille or large print
  • British sign language (BSL) Communication Support Workers
  • Sighted guiding
  • Mentoring
  • Loan of laptops, dictaphones, magnifiers and access to a suite of bespoke assistive technology
  • Mobility support
  • Exam access arrangements
  • Support with preparing for adulthood.

Support statement

Oldham College is committed to delivering the provision of the Children and Families Act 2014. We embrace our statutory duty to fulfil our obligations under the SEND Code of Practice for those aged up to 25 and are committed to making every effort to meet students’ needs.

Oldham SEND Links and Resources

Oldham Council SEND Local Offer

Oldham Parent Carer Forum

Oldham’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Information, Advice Support Service (IASS)

NW SEND Network Newsletters