Support to attend college

Find out more about getting support to attend college

Below is information about support available to young people looking to attend college or university. 

 

 

Support to attend college

Support for deaf students aged over 16 (Deaf START)

To make it easier for deaf, British sign language (BSL) users to access Deaf START, they provide SignVideo Web Access Points​ at some the One Stop Centres and SignVideo Web Access so people can use this service from their own home.

Other organisations who work to support people with sensory impairments include:

How can Deaf START help

The Deaf support, training and resource team (Deaf START) work with young people aged 16 and over who are deaf and live in Leeds. 

They help young people to access courses in local colleges or training centres.

Specialist staff can provide:

  • two-way interpreting in British Sign Language and English during classes.
  • two-way interpreting for interviews, open days, trips, parents' evenings, EHC Plan meetings, and much more within the education sector.
  • advice to staff on how to improve the learning environment and communication methods with a deaf learner.
  • a range of strategies and communication modes as appropriate, for example, written communication, British Sign Language to Signed Supported English.
  • deaf awareness training to college staff and public institutions delivered by the city lead Teacher of the Deaf (QToD)  and deaf instructors from within the DAHIT team.
  • tuition to assist deaf students with their written English delivered by post-16 QToD within the DAHIT team.
How to refer a young person

Referrals to the Deaf START are often made by colleges or training centres. Young people can also use their own finances to employ a member of the team.

To make a referral call 0113 378 6689 or email Sue.Platt@leeds.gov.uk. 

If you would like to write to the team, you can also post a referral to:

Sue Platt, Deaf START Lead
AC - Learning Inclusion Service
Leeds City Council
PO Box 911

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

A bursary is money that helps young people pay for costs linked to education or training.

This money can help pay for:

  • clothes, books, or equipment for a course
  • travel to and from education or training
  • lunch on days the young person studies or trains

A young person may be able to get a bursary if they are aged 16 to 19 and:

  • studying at a school or college in England (not university), or
  • on a training course, including unpaid apprenticeships

Extra support may be available for young people with a disability if:

  • they receive Income Support or Universal Credit because they support themselves, or
  • they receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit, or
  • they receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and ESA or Universal Credit

To apply for a bursary, young people should speak to their school, college, or training provider. Student services or a tutor can explain what to do next.

More information about the 16 to 18 Bursary Fund can be found on the government website.

Transitioning to higher education

Welcome to Go Higher West Yorkshire’s Disabled Learners’ Higher Education Transition Pack.

This pack is for disabled young people who are thinking about going to university or higher education.

Choosing what to do after school or college can feel hard. There is a lot of information and it can be confusing. This pack helps by explaining things clearly and step by step. It shares information about:

  • what happens and when
  • how to apply
  • what support is available

Starting higher education is a big step. Planning often starts a long time before a young person arrives at university. For some students, support at university works differently to support at school or college. The words used for disability and support can also change. This can make it harder for students to find the help they need.

The transition pack helps explain these differences and shows how students can get the right support.

Click here to access the transition pack.

The One in Five is a podcast made by disabled university students. It is for disabled students who are thinking about going to university.

The podcast can also help:

  • disabled students already at university
  • school and college staff
  • parents and carers

The name One in Five is used because around one in five people in the UK have a disability.

Click here to access the podcast.

Contact details

  • Email: hello@gohigherwestyorks.ac.uk