Students With Disabilities Or Learning Differences
Please let us know as soon as possible if you have a disability or specific learning difference that may affect your studies. If you have a chronic condition that is well managed, it is still a good idea to declare this so it is documented and can be referred to should it affect your studies. Every effort will be made to ensure reasonable adjustments are made to accommodate your needs and to provide appropriate support for you to complete your study successfully. Where necessary, evidence will be required to help identify appropriate adjustments.
Both the College and our validating partners are firmly committed to providing the widest possible access and to removing barriers to those with disabilities and/or learning differences while ensuring that confidentiality is maintained. A formal process is in place to undertake an assessment of your needs and you are strongly encouraged to disclose a disability or learning difference. Following disclosure, staff will make every effort to provide reasonable adjustments to ensure that you are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with persons who are not disabled.
Students with disabilities or learning differences who are resident in the UK and studying on a designated course may be eligible for a Disabled Students Allowance. Applications should be made to your Student Finance Company, in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. All our courses are designated for the purposes of DSA.
Individuals might only become aware of their special requirements as they study. If you become aware of any developing inhibition to learning, please contact the Student Services Manager/Officer. We can then begin the process of identifying the exact nature of your concerns.
The NCA policy on equal opportunities is published on our website at this link.
The contact person for enquiries from Disabled Student Scheme assessors at the NCA is the Student Services Manager, Marie Clarkson.
Specific Learning Differences / Neurodiversity
Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs) is an overarching term for a number of neurodiverse conditions; they include dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
SpLDs can affect people in a variety of ways, including, but limited to, the way in which information is learned, processed, affecting memory and co-ordination and can also vary in their severity. This can make studying particularly difficult for some people. In fact, sometimes it is only when people enter the challenging world of Higher Education that their SpLD comes to light.
Whether students have an existing diagnosis of a SpLD or believe that a SpLD may be present, they are encouraged to talk to the College about how feel they are affected. In particular, our Student Support Officer has relevant knowledge and experience and will be happy to help. There is further information in the college handbook relating to adjustments that can be made to assessment processes (see the section on Extra Support for Students) and there is marking and assessment guidance for teaching staff about marking the work of students with dyslexia. Or you can ask the Student Support Officer, Student Services Manager or a Study Skills Support Tutor to explain these matters to you.
The College operates an initial SpLD screening questionnaire which can be completed by a student who wishes to explore the possibility of the presence of a SpLD. This screener is not definitive but can help to identify individuals who may benefit from professional assessment.
For the College to make any adjustments for students with SpLDs, the College must be provided with evidence of the presence of a SpLD. The College is unable to undertake or contribute towards a SpLD assessment but can direct students to specialist SpLD assessment companies who may be able to provide the assessments at a lower cost than assessment centres elsewhere.
Students who wish to apply for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) will also need to provide evidence for DSA eligibility.
Support for students with mobility issues
In normal everyday situations, mobility issues should not present a problem for students studying in College, since there is good disabled access to nearly all parts of the building. However, this may not be true in the event of an emergency evacuation. Students with mobility issues should refer to the section on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP) to arrange to make a Plan if necessary.
Students with blue badges are able to park in the disabled access car park bays at College. Students with temporary mobility issues should contact the College Manager, as it may be possible to provide a permit giving you temporary permission to park in the College car park, although with no guarantee of a space on any particular day.
