Learning Support Service

How is the support put in place?

You will receive an email to your University account from the Learning Support Team which will outline how the support will be provided. You will be asked to provide further information such as your availability for support.

You will then be contacted by the Support Worker, Mentor or Tutor allocated to you to arrange the time, date and location for the first meeting.

What we expect from you

We ask you to do the following:

1. Meet the Support Worker(s) at the designated time and location.
2. If you are unable to meet the Support Worker(s) because you are unwell or there has been a change to your timetable, please notify the Support Worker(s), ideally giving more than 24 hours' notice where possible.
3. If you do not meet a Support Worker and you have not notified them about your absence, the Learning Support Service will email you to ask for confirmation that you will meet the Support Worker next time you are due to receive support.
4. If you do not engage with the Learning Support Service, the support may be withdrawn. You can request the reinstatement of support, and you will be asked to commit to attending.
5. Professional boundaries between Learning Support colleagues and students must be maintained at all times.
6. Follow the process for signing the time sheets if you receive support from a Specialist Mentor or Specialist Study Skills Tutor.

How to pass on feedback

Please pass on feedback about the Learning Support Service or your Support Worker via the Student Services Feedback Survey. We welcome both positive and negative feedback as it helps us to develop and improve the service.

What if I am unhappy with the support?

Unfortunately, from time to time, students may have issues with the support they receive. We recommend discussing this directly with your Support Worker where appropriate and if you feel able. The Support Worker may be able to change or adapt the way they work.

If you feel unable to speak to the Support Worker, please contact Learning Support. We will explore the issues you raise and take the necessary action to resolve the issue.

What if I want to change or stop the support?

You can discontinue the support at any time or request a change to the support. To request this, please contact Learning Support.

Specialist Mentor

Specialist Mentors work with students on a one-to-one basis addressing the barriers to learning created by mental health difficulties or autism. Examples of these barriers include, coping with anxiety and stress, how to deal with concentration difficulties, time management, and creating a suitable work-life balance. Mentors are not advocates, counsellors or academic subject specialists; their role is to promote independent learning, support students to develop study strategies and to empower the student to manage their workload.

You can meet your Specialist Mentor either in person on campus or via a MS Teams meeting - this is your choice.

Specialist Study Skills Tutors

Specialist Study Skills Tutors offer support to students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD, on a one-to-one basis to help students to develop academic competences such as organisation, assignment planning, exam preparation, research techniques and memory skills. Staff deliver literacy support in the areas of spelling, punctuation, grammar and accuracy of thought presentation. They promote independent learning as well as empowering the student to manage their workload. Study skills is not subject specific tuition; however, staff can work with a student using course materials as a framework.

You can receive your Specialist Study Skills Support either in person on campus or via a MS Teams meeting - this is your choice.

Note taking

Note takers attend on campus or online taught sessions to take notes on the content. This may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs, practical sessions, etc. You will be provided with digital notes, usually within 2 working days of the taught session. Please be aware that the notes will be an overview of the taught session and will contain key information, not a transcript. If you have any specific requirements for your notes, please pass this information to Learning Support.

Library Support

Library Support provides assistance in accessing the library, support to locate resources, support to retrieve/discharge/return items and assistance in making use of other library resources such as photocopying.

Practical Campus Support

Staff provide general assistance around the campus which might include wheelchair assistance, operating lifts or doors, carrying items on behalf of students, carrying out practical tasks under the student's instruction, navigating the campus, or working as a sighted guide.

Study Buddy

Study Buddies provide help to ease the transition into university life. They provide information about how to access the range of support available at the University, provide basic guidance on study related issues such as time management/organisation and support some students with social interaction or participation in group work.

Exam Support: Amanuensis

Can transcribe your responses to the exam if you are unable to write or have difficulties writing for long periods of time.

• The amanuensis must write exactly what you dictate.
• The amanuensis can ask you to repeat what you have said.
• You can complete sections of the exam paper yourself. Any sections of the exam completed by the amanuensis should state 'By amanuensis' at the start and end of their section.

Exam Support: Reader

Can read aloud either from the exam paper of your exam answer script.

• The reader must read any text exactly and cannot correct or alter any information or errors.
• The reader can read all the information on the exam paper or answer script or just sections - it is your responsibility to give instructions about this to the reader.

Exam Support: Prompter

Can give pre-arranged prompts to keep you focused on the exam if you are easily distracted.

• Before the start of the exam, you should speak with the prompter to agree the type and frequency of prompts you require.
• The prompter can give your prompts at regular intervals throughout an exam - for example, every 15 minutes.
• The prompter can let you know when it is time to move on to the next question.
• The prompter can encourage you to re-focus on your exam if you have become distracted.