Student Services give you access to a range of specialist advisors, so that you can be sure you are getting expert help from the right people. All of our friendly staff are trained to help and will treat your query confidentially. Our support is tailor-made for each student, and it can range from careers advice and additional learning support to mentoring and welfare.
If you’d like to learn more about the range of support on offer – or if you can’t find the information you’re looking for – please contact us:
We offer the following support to students to meet their needs:
Study Support
Your Tutors:
Every student has a dedicated personal tutor, whose main aim is to provide support throughout the course and help you achieve your full potential. Whether it’s advice on assignments, help reaching deadlines, or just a chat about your course, your personal tutor will meet with you regularly to talk through your progress and help with any issues.
Personal Development Plan:
We encourage all students to record and reflect on their learning through their Personal Development Plan. This process allows you to take a critical look at your performance and achievements throughout your time with us, to assess your personal and educational development, and to support you in your chosen career path. It will enable you to articulate the skills you are developing in order to open up opportunities for the future.
We can help you with:
- English
- Maths
- ICT
- Language skills
- Study skills
- Revision techniques
- Dyslexia and dyspraxia support
- Support for additional needs associated with autism/ Asperger’s Syndrome and EHCP; sensory impairment; hearing and/ or visual physical difficulties; medical or health issues
Welfare
We know that sometimes students face problems, are looking for help or simply need information.
The Welfare and Guidance Officer team are available for drop-in or booked appointments in Student Services at any campus.
Common issues that students see Guidance Officers to address include:
Money worries, Housing / Homelessness, Benefits, Family issues, safeguarding issues such as domestic violence, forced marriage, drug and alcohol use and mental health, health, and Immigration
As well as being a very experienced team they also work with many external agencies such as Forward Thinking Birmingham, GPs, Umbrella, Food Banks and job centres, St Basils and many more. We can act as a referral point to other agencies for specialist advice and support.
The welfare team are also part of the Safeguarding Triage Team and deal with initial safeguarding reports from staff and students.
Pastoral Mentor Service
The college have a team of mentors who support any children in care and care leavers in the college. Every child in care and care leaver are allocated a mentor to support them through their journey at college. Mentors will work together with Social Workers and other agencies to support students. They also support students in their PEP meetings and help learners to access the college bursary. The mentors also support other learners through safeguarding and additional support referrals.
The college are also signed up the Care Leavers Covenant to ensure that we provide the best opportunities for our care leavers. The mentor team are also part of the Safeguarding Triage Team and deal with initial safeguarding reports from staff and students.
Learning Support
If you have an additional learning need, our experienced team can support you in your studies. When you apply, please let us know about any additional help you may require so we can discuss your needs in detail before you start your course. Where specific learning needs are identified (e.g. where a disability is declared), the course team will liaise with our Student Services to ensure that your requirements are met.
From our communication support officers to our dyslexia tutors, to our learner support assistants and in-class teaching assistants, our qualified staff are here to support you during your studies.
You may also be able to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance. If you are eligible, you can get help with:
- Additional needs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD
- Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
- Physical disability such as being partially sighted or a wheelchair user
- Long-term health conditions such as cancer, chronic heart disease, or HIV
For more information on the Disabled Students’ Allowance and your eligibility, visit the government website.
Learner Resources
Each of our campuses and centres is equipped with either a library or a learning zone, to support your learning at college. We also use Attain, a virtual learning environment available to all students which contains learning materials specially designed for your course.
You will be able to access:
- Course details and modules – including schemes of work, reading lists, revision notes, and teaching notes
- Web-based content for your course – including interactive learning materials and online learning activities
- Online assessments for your course – including tests, quizzes, and assignments
- Collaboration and communication tools to use with your tutors and other learners
- E-books and subject-specific databases to help you in your studies
Money Matters
Find out more about the range of financial support available to you during your time as a student at South & City College Birmingham.