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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Support

Starting a new place of study after school can be an exciting time, but it can also be worrying, especially if you have Special Educational Needs or an EHCP.

Here at Harrogate College, our friendly SEND team is committed to ensure you get the best support you need. We ensure measures are put in place so that everyone has a positive experience at the college and any barriers to your learning are removed.

By the end of college, our helpful team will ensure you’ve developed skills for adulthood, including employability, personal and social skills, accessing the community, and independent living.

Students who do not have an EHCP but require some support will receive this through universal, quality first teaching and targeted support including the following:

A send support worker is helping a student cutting mushrooms in the kitchen
  • In-class differentiation, such as smaller step tasks, and handouts
  • Personalised timetable
  • Access to Chromebooks
  • Assistive technology (radio aids, magnifiers, adjusted font sizes and read write software)
  • Overlays and coloured paper for visual stress
  • Referral to external specialist support services such as North Yorkshire SEND Hubs, CAMHS, additional careers, wellbeing services
  • Transition/college familiarisation visits before you start
  • A low sensory room for quiet re-regulation
  • A key person for regular check-ins
  • Access to our hygiene suite
  • Exam access arrangements

Support will be assessed on an individual basis and will vary according to your needs. A Support Plan will be created for you to share with the staff who you work regularly with including teaching staff, mentors and pastoral team members.

You should apply for your chosen programme and discuss your support requirements at the interview.

Learning support team contacts

At Harrogate College, we provide a service for students across the College. The High Needs team is committed to helping people with learning difficulties/disabilities to overcome the barriers within learning, identify strategies that will help them in adulthood, build on personal and social skills and be fully integrated into the college community.

We have a range of facilities that allow us to meet the needs of all our students.

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Exam access arrangements

Did you have exam access arrangements whilst at secondary school? Such as extra time, a reader, scribe or use of a word processor. 

If so and you would like the same arrangements in place at Harrogate College, this is what you will need to do:

  1. Contact your previous school and request a copy of the Form 8/9. The SENco will be more than happy to assist.
  2. Send the electronic copy to sendsupport@harrogate.ac.uk.
  3. Title the email with your name and college B number if you have it.

Without this we will be unable to offer the same adjustments here, so please contact the SENco from your previous school and ask for the information.

We’re happy to organise this – but you need to ask for the information. Due to GDPR, we cannot request this on your behalf.

Remember – send the electronic copy to SENDsupport@harrogate.ac.uk Or call us on 01423 878381 or 01423 878343.

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High Needs Support

If you have an EHCP and you are considering Harrogate College after you finish secondary school, you will need to let the SENCo know at your Annual Review. Your home local authority who finalises your Plan will then consult with us to see if we can meet your needs and offer the provision identified in it. Although you do not have to apply for a course before this happens, we strongly encourage you to do so, as this will help us see how we can best support you.  

Please tell us when you are applying that you have an EHCP, as being offered a place on one of our courses will be subject to our confirming that we can meet your Special Educational Needs. 

It also helps us to prepare any transition you might need before you start with us and to allocate support staff, particularly if you require in-class support from our team of Learning Support Assistants. Your EHCP will stay with you during your time at college and will be reviewed annually as it currently is in school.

If you have any general SEND questions, including EHCP queries, contact: SENDsupport@harrogate.ac.uk

College facilities 

We have disabled access to the building, accessible toilets, designated disabled parking, accessible cafe facilities and lift access to all floors.

We also have:

  • A first aid room
  • A hygiene suite with bed/hoist
  • Accessible shower facilities with hoist
  • The ‘Oasis Room’ – a safe space for students to address times of crisis, sensory overload, mental health issues, or periods of sudden change
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Meet the team

john-paul wordsworth

John-Paul Wordsworth

SEND and
High Needs Manager
hilary mason

Hilary Mason

SEND Team Lead
Belinda Roy

Belinda Roy

High Needs
Engagement Coach 
sendsupport@harrogate-college.ac.uk

Information for parents

We hope the information above is helpful, and gives you an idea of the support we can offer. As well as outlining the ways in which we can support our students with special educational needs, we wanted to include some links here, which you may find useful.

Leeds Local Offer

North Yorkshire Council (SEND Information for Parents and Carers)

North Yorkshire local offer

If you have any questions about the provision of SEND support at Harrogate College, please do get in touch, we will be happy to help answer your queries. Contact: sendsupport@harrogate.ac.uk.