Newcastle-under-Lyme College: The Learner Services Team- providing support and opportunities at NULC

The Learner Services Team

Who are we?

The Learner Services Team are based on the second floor of the college (next to the LRC). We offer Additional Learning Support and non-academic pastoral support to learners to enable them to achieve their full potential, feel safe, happy and part of the College community.

We have 3 Learner Managers, who are available Monday-Friday to support you and ensure you get the right help and advice if you are struggling to attend college, have problems that are affecting your wellbeing or if you are struggling to cope with any aspect of your life. They can make referrals to other support within the College and to external agencies.

Each Learner Manager has been assigned subject areas, so take a look below for who you will be working with.

Learner Managers

Jo Lawton
Sport, Early Years, Health & Social Care and Hair and Beauty

01782 254383

Jan Austin
Business, Travel & Tourism, Accountancy, IT, Construction & Engineering, Public Services and Sixth Form

01782 254213

Paula Cooper
Art, Design, Floristry, Photography, Media, Music and Sixth Form

01782 254391

Some of the external agencies that we work with include:

· MIND (for mental health issues)

· ARCH (for housing issues)

· C-Card (for sexual health, advice and guidance)

· YMCA (for housing issues)

· Aspire Housing (for housing issues)

· Citizens Advice Bureau (for advice and guidance on debt, benefits, employment, housing, discrimination and many more issues)

· Savana (counselling for those who have suffered domestic and/or sexual abuse)

· Young Carers (supporting young people with caring responsibilities)

Personal Tutors

When you enrol at college, you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will be your main point of contact throughout your course.

You will see your personal tutor on a regular basis for group sessions, and a minimum of 3 times during the academic year for 1 to 1 reviews. In addition to the set times that you will see your personal tutor, they will be on hand at other times throughout the week, should you need any additional support.

Group tutorials look at themes that are common to members of your tutorial group. There will be at least 6 key themes that will be discussed.

These are:

• Safeguarding/Child Protection

• E-Safety

• Class Reps and Learner Voice

• Equality and Diversity

• Alcohol Awareness

• Money Management and Employability Skill

Here at NULC we value the learner voice and there will be an opportunity for student’s to put forward topics that are of particular interest to them to be discussed within the group.

Through the group tutorials, you will be given the opportunity to:

• Become a class rep

• Become an Xtra volunteer

• Become a peer mentor

• Stand for election to become a member of the Students’ Union

• Gain employability skills through paid and unpaid voluntary opportunities

In your one to one tutorials, you will work closely with your tutor to assess your current academic progress. You will also have the chance to talk more in depth about any issues that may be affecting your college life, answer any queries you have and where relevant, get advice and guidance in relation to UCAS applications or career progression.

Through your tutorials, you will find out information on a range of enrichment activities that are run throughout the college on a weekly basis that you will have the opportunity to take part in. These include Sign Language and Japanese as well as interactive one off sessions where you can learn new skills.

In your tutorials, you will be able to discuss and find out information on cross college events and how to get involved.

Cross College Events