Learner Support
We’re with you every step of the way during your time at Trafford College.
Find out more about the support we will offer you in our Trafford College Charter, which you can download below. From college term dates and values through to bitesize information about learner support, careers guidance, our code of conduct and more, this small brochure is a must read before you come to college.
Another useful read is our Learner Services brochure. In here you’ll find useful information, advice and support about how you can enjoy college life the most by looking after your mental health and wellbeing.
If you need help with your finances, career planning or mental health and wellbeing we are here to help. Please contact Learner Services Reception and they will be happy to support you: Altrincham Campus: 0161 952 4694/ Stretford Campus: 0161 886 7148.
Services available in college
Consultation with your Course Tutor or Pastoral Support Mentor
Pastoral Support Moodle page
College Counsellor (you can self-refer in Learner Services)
Mental Health and Wellbeing Workshops – see your Pastoral Support Mentor for Further details
External Counselling Service (referral can be made via your GP)
Websites such as “The Mix” and “Kooth” offer support outside of college
Additional Learning Needs & Local Offer
At Trafford College, we believe that everyone should have the chance to achieve their very best. Our Progression Curriculum for students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provides an inclusive, accessible and ambitious curriculum offer, putting the individual student at the heart of the department. Our aim is to provide a genuinely supportive learning environment where happy and confident young people can maximise their own potential.
Specialist SEND teachers and learning facilitators work collaboratively creating inclusivity, supporting a person led approach. We are committed to everyone being included in learning, we plan and deliver a curriculum that is adapted to overcome the needs of individuals, so they are well equipped for the next steps. Courses embed independence, resilience and employability skills to enable our learners to secure positive and meaningful progression
Our Curriculum offer includes:
Foundation Programmes
Our foundation programmes at Entry 2/3 and Level 1 are for young people who may have been disengaged from learning, underachieving or unsure about their study choices. Students will be introduced to vocational and employability skills alongside English, maths, digital literacy and citizenship to enable progression to further study in the wider college, an apprenticeship programme or employment.
Pre-Supported Internship
Our Pre-Supported Internships are in partnership with Pure Innovations and provide a college based internship for young people with an EHCP not quite ready for an off-site internship and supports the development of employability skills alongside work experience placements.
Supported Internship
Our Supported Internships are based off site at Stepping Hill Hospital, Trafford General Hospital and Trafford Local Authority. These internships provide a unique opportunity for young people with an EHCP to enhance their employability skills in a real working environment where interns are treated as an equal in the workplace which shows that they are valued members of the workforce.
Transition to College
We understand that coming to college can be a new challenge for some students. The Transition Co-ordinators work closely with schools and partner agencies so that we can plan transition to college at the earliest opportunity. Transition Co-Ordinators attend Year 11 reviews in order to support the EHC review process and identify how we can support your needs at College. Transition Co-ordinators will work with you to put together the transition support programme you need. This may include meeting with you at school reviews, arranging personalised visits to college and supporting you at interview to ensure everything is in place from your first day with us.
Within Progression Curriculum we also have a range of bespoke provision to support young people to integrate into college life and learning so you know that there a starting point for everyone.
College Ready
This is a pre-college course for young people who have just finished school and are thinking of coming to college in September. College Ready is a two-day transition course which will help you to familiarise yourself with our supportive college environment, take part in fun team building activities, experience vocational tasters and have an opportunity to make friends, meet teachers and support staff.
Step into Learning
Step into Learning is designed for young people who are undecided about their future career and don’t feel ready to access a full- time course or need support to enter the world of work.
This 10-week, 10 hour course will support young people who have been disengaged from learning to attend college, helping to remove barriers to participation in education and re-integrate into a learning setting.
E-Learning
Our Blended Learning Programme is for young people who are unable to access learning on site due to health issues. This mixed delivery programme will help you to overcome barriers to learning with the ultimate aim to support you to on site learning. Your curriculum will be planned to coincide with parallel on– site course to allow a blended approach, allowing you to attend in person sessions when you feel confident to do so.
Support for Additional Needs
Planning your support
We will use our best endeavours to put appropriate learning support in place to meet students’ educational needs, including those without Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans. Before support is put in place, we will carry out an initial assessment of students who have disclosed an additional need. This may be followed up with an observational assessment carried out in the classroom. We may also ask if we can contact your previous provider for information from them. If you have an EHCP, we will work with you, and external agencies if required, to ensure you are being supported towards the short-term targets and longer-term outcomes. We will coordinate your annual review where progress towards outcomes set are reviewed, any amendments to plans made, and the support provided in College considered to make sure that you are being supported in the best possible way to help you achieve. These will adopt a multi-agency approach and all professionals working to meet the requirements of the plan will be invited. Support will be reviewed regularly, taking into account your individual progress and any changes to your ambitions and aspirations, which may lead to changes in the type and level of support.
Local Offer
For our full Local Offer, please view or download our SEND Policy, which can be found on our Group Website. Policies – The Trafford & Stockport College Group
Talk to us
We advise that you take up the opportunity to talk to our Inclusion Team when you visit our School Leaver open events so that we can be sure to offer you the support you need at the start of your journey.
The early identification of your individual learning support needs could be the key to your success, if you have a learning difficulty or disability that has been identified on an EHCP.
Assistive Technology
At college, we embrace the opportunities that technology can bring to your studies and encourage you to use it