Support for Learners with Disabilities/ Difficulties

Your assessment meetings are completely confidential. You will have the opportunity to discuss how your condition affects you and how this may have an impact on your studies.  The assessment gives us information to support you with your studies in your time at Bolton College. You may bring someone with you to these meetings if that helps you to feel more comfortable.

The meetings will be geared to your requirements.  They may take up to an hour but you may stay longer depending on what has been arranged.

You will be advised prior to this so that you can make arrangements and/or adjust your routine on time. During your time here at college, we will regularly review your progress and reassess your needs if it is deemed necessary.

Initial Assessments

All students are invited to college prior to their enrolment so that we can assess their skills in Maths and English. This enables us to make sure the correct support is in place for their course.

Hands-on experience is a major part of the teaching and learning process and our courses allow learners to progress at their own pace, working in an 8:1 learner to staff ratio. Subjects can be chosen to suit the learner but the emphasis during the first year is to:

• Build up basic keyboarding skills in Maths and English 
• Develop and improve Braille skills for blind and partially sighted learners 
• Offer training in the use of specialised hardware and software 
• Prepare for employment or progression on to mainstream courses and/or examinations, with concessions offered to students

If you wish to contact us to discuss sensory development support options please get in touch with

Rachael Whittaker

Senior Lecturer in Support for D/deaf Learners

rachael.whittaker@boltoncc.ac.uk

01204 482 603

Lynn D Roberts 

Specialist Inclusion Co-ordinator for Visually Impaired Learners

lynn.d.roberts@boltoncc.ac.uk

01204 482 596

If you think you need additional assistance to do well on your course, then study support might be for you. We can offer you the extra support needed for you to succeed and develop your skills for the future.

Our dedicated team can help with your additional needs, such as:

• Communicator support 
• Exam skills and support with concessions (The final decision about examination concessions is made by the examining boards) 
• Planning and organising your work and study skills 
• Maths, English and IT 
• Special assessment of your needs 
• Specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Asperger’s Syndrome 
• Study skills like essay-writing, note-taking and research skills 
• Technical equipment support

The College Campus on Deane Road was built to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act legislation and relevant good practice guides.

Bolton College is an inclusive College that welcomes learners with physical disabilities.

We endeavour to provide a positive college experience fostering independence for all learners; the college campus on Deane Road was built to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act legislation and relevant good practice guides.

There are a range of facilities which cater for most needs; in fact the college centres have been assessed by AccessAble and the college facilities published on their website www.accessable.co.uk/bolton-college. Click below to learn more:

Find out more about our disabled provision...

Accessible ramps and tactile surfaces

There are a number of accessible bays in the car park and a large turning area to help students being dropped off and collected close to the main building.

Two passenger lifts

These service all floors via an access control system. Automatic powered doors greet students, staff and visitors at the main entrance areas and corridors are spacious and well lit.

Wayfinding signage, tactile and braille signs

This is provided to enable easy travel around the buildings.

Induction loops

These have been fitted at each reception area, within food outlets and within each of the Learning Resource Centres. They are also fitted within a number of specialist and general teaching rooms on each floor and portable induction loops are also available on request.

Accessible toilets 

These cater for a variety of requirements including a specialist care suite with powered bed, hoist and showering facilities.

10 dedicated disabled parking bays

These are available for customers who are blue badge holders. Parking spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis.

'Buddy' system

We have a well-developed system for emergency evacuations.