Blackpool Skills College
Support that starts with understanding you.
Your strengths, your experience and what helps you learn. That is where we begin.
Everyone arrives at College with a different experience of education. You may know exactly what helps you learn, or you may need support to work that out. We want to understand your strengths as well as the things you find difficult.
Before your placement begins
Planning your support
Before a place is agreed, we will discuss your needs, previous support and any relevant professional information. This helps us consider whether the College can provide a suitable programme and what arrangements would be needed for you to access it.
Understand your starting point
Discuss your strengths, experience, support needs and what has helped you in the past.
Consider the right arrangements
Review the relevant information and consider whether the College can provide a suitable programme.
Clarify your support
Work with the people involved in your placement to clarify the support package before a place is confirmed.
Making learning accessible
What could support look like?
Open each section to explore examples of the support that may form part of an agreed programme.
01 Clear routines and manageable steps
Proposed support may include clear routines and tasks broken into manageable steps, helping you understand what you are working towards and how to get started.
02 Resources and explanations that help
Adapted resources and additional explanation may help you access learning. We will consider the approaches that are appropriate to your assessed needs.
03 Opportunities to review understanding
Planned opportunities to review understanding can help identify what makes sense, what needs further explanation and the next step in your learning.
These are examples of proposed support. The support agreed for each student will depend on assessed need and available provision.
Education, Health and Care Plans
Students with an EHCP
Understanding the plan is part of understanding the person.
Local authorities commission and fund placements at the College. Where you have an Education, Health and Care Plan, we consider the needs, specified provision and outcomes in that plan when assessing whether the College can meet your needs.
We work with the commissioning authority and relevant professionals to clarify the support package before a place is confirmed. An enquiry or visit does not guarantee a placement.
Read about admissions and referrals ↗Getting ready for College
A supported transition
Moving on from school can feel easier when you know what to expect. We will discuss how information sharing, visits and preparation could help you settle into College. Tell us about any concerns early so we can consider them together.
Explore College life ↗Things you might want to tell us
- What helps you feel comfortable in a new place.
- What you enjoy and feel confident doing.
- Anything you are worried about.
- How you prefer to ask questions or explain what you need.
You do not need to have every answer. A conversation is a good place to start.
Working with students and families
Your views matter.
We want you to understand your goals, contribute to decisions and develop confidence in explaining what you need.
Family and professional involvement will reflect your circumstances, consent and the College’s responsibilities.
Let’s start with a conversation.
Contact us to discuss support needs, ask a question or arrange a visit.