We asked our students to share their views about the personal support we provide, and the many ways we help them overcome everyday barriers to learning. Here’s what they said:
Michael
BTEC National Diploma in IT, Level 3
"I get help and advice on how to tackle questions I don’t understand and it keeps me from straying off the subject matter. My Personal support workers are a pleasure to talk to and very supportive. They provide someone to talk to and encourage the need to achieve."
Billy
Performing Arts and Drama
"My PSA assists me in navigating around the building. She enables me to access information when I need it and describes all the physical movement in and around my lessons."
"She gives me re-assurance and guidance and describes to me what's going on in the environment around me. By putting me at ease and giving me less to worry about whilst in college, she helps me enjoy college life more."
Deborah
Beauty Therapy
"My Communicator helps me to understand what is being said in class and helps me communicate with other students and customers."
"She helps me learn new vocabulary for my course and explains it so that I understand."
"I feel more confident. If I am in a situation I can’t deal with, my Communicators always help me. I couldn’t access college or the course and achieve without them."
Robert
ITQ Level 1 and Work Skills
"My PSAs help me check my work and understand stuff. It would be boring if I didn’t have support because I would be behind in my work. They help me get the grade and I like chatting with my PSA"
Jordan
ITQ Level 1 and Work Skills
"My personal support assistant helps me with grammar, spelling and understanding the questions, then making them simple. It’s nice to know they are there to make questions easier to understand."
Luke
ITQ Level 1 and Work Skills
"Personal support assistants have been helpful in proof reading my work and with spelling. I would not be as far ahead as I am without their support. They make the work less daunting because I can ask for help if I need it."
Scott
ITQ Level 1
"I really enjoy having a team of personal support assistants to help me because they bring a different perspective to the things I am doing. They improve the whole college experience for me by providing a more personal connection with the college."
Chloe
Childcare
"My personal Support Assistant takes notes in class to help me with assignments and helps me find books in the library which is very useful. She helps me feel more confident."
Paul
BTEC National IT
"Having support at college helped me cope and stay until the end of the course."
My Personal Support assistants help me to not get distracted."
Sara
First year Catering student
"In September when I was new, my Personal Support Assistants helped me follow my timetable to make sure I was in the right place at the right time. In class they help me remember what to do and that helps everything run more smoothly"
Katie
Child Care Level 2
"My PSA helps me with assignments and note-taking, as I cannot get it all down. She also sits with me at break time and is always there to talk to when I feel down"
Sam
CASHE Level 2 Childcare
"My PSA gives me information that I have not heard in class and she carries my bag and helps me with stairs so it’s easier for me to get around. She also note-takes so that I get all the information I need, which is very helpful for me."
"My PSA is good to chat to because I often find it difficult to communicate with others my age. My helper helps me chat with them and gives me confidence."
Josh
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
"I get help in lots of ways - help getting around the college in my wheelchair and getting materials for me. They also make me feel more included and help me around the college to see friends."
