As many as 1 in 3 apprentices may have some form of additional learning need which requires additional support throughout their learning and employment. We understand that many learners, at some point in their education, may experience difficulties affecting their learning and SR Supply Chain Consultants recognises that these may be long term or short term.
What is a Learner with Additional Learner Needs?
An individual with ALN is usually identified by needing more, or different, support to what is typically provided to a learner of similar age, whether a child or an adult.
Types of Additional Learner Needs:
- Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia
- Attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADHD) (ADD)
- Sensory impairments
- Autism spectrum conditions
- Physical disabilities and medical conditions
- Poor Mental Health
Additional Learner Support from SRSCC
At SRSCC we focus on our brain differences, not deficits, and our wider view of “normal” is a big part of something called neurodiversity. A neurodiversity scale isn’t isolated to ADHD or ASD but can affect all our Cognitive processes.
Our apprentices complete a Cognitive Assessment as part of the onboarding process. Cognassist provides a digital cognitive assessment and support platform for post 16 education providers. Cognassist helps us is to identify not just who might need additional support, but what support might be suitable. If you identify as having an additional cognitive learning need then throughout your learning journey you will have access to the Cognassist platform.
All apprentices that have a special requirement will be assessed on an individual and equal basis. All apprentices with additional learning needs may require reasonable adjustments. We look specifically across three areas:
- In the classroom in the delivery of the learning
- In the accessibility of resources and materials
- The accessibility of the exams.
Support Strategies
Apprentices who are recommended for support and have agreed to this with their mentor will be given a personalised learning support plan. This learning plan will give providers guidance on appropriate, reasonable adjustments for supporting the learner journey and end-point assessment, which are discussed and finalised with the learner before application to the end-point assessment organisation.
The personalised learning support plan will also give learners access to over 100 tailored strategy modules throughout their programme (depending on their programme length), receiving four strategy modules per month through Cognassist. The modules the learner will receive focus on specific tasks, scenarios, or skills that the learner may find more difficult based on their cognitive learning needs. For example, a learner who struggles with their executive function would be given modules around using critical thinking to solve problems and how to make responsible decisions at work to support better problem solving and reasoning skills.
Our learners who require additional support have monthly 1-2-1 review meetings with the Learning Engagement Team to review their engagement with the Cognassist support programme, as well as the support the learner is receiving.
