Services to Support Learning Areas of Positive Practice n An integrated approach across support and curriculum teams, designed to achieve a smooth entry to College, has resulted in students reporting very positively on their early experiences, with 91.5% stating that they felt that they were studying at the right level and 92.5% that they were on the right course. 92.6% agreed that they had a good introduction to the subjects on the course and 91.8% rated the teaching on the course as being ‘good’. n Changes to the bursary provision arrangements have had a significant impact upon both application and payment turnaround times (24 days in 2017/18, from an average of 36 days in 2016/17; early applications were often completed within seven days). Most notably, develops have included: new childcare remittance software; combined childcare costing and start forms; the introduction of a ‘Caseload Project’ involving Student Advisors. n Students reported that tutorials with their Learning Development Tutors (LDT) helped them to settle into College (87.5%). n Early identification of additional student needs is effectively achieved through the application process, so that students with ASNs can benefit from summer drop-ins and engage with support services, prior to the commencement of their course. There was an18% increase in service use from 2016/17 to 2017/18, with significant increases in mental health, autism and hearing impairment support needs. n The Student Experience Team have developed productive working relationships with a range of external agencies, who can be called on to supplement the services provided internally and help students overcome often significant barriers to learning. Mechanisms to share student information with external agencies have been greatly enhanced; additional support arrangements are now in place much earlier. This collaborative practice includes: SDS staff working for a day a week on each campus, in order to provide career information and support for Edinburgh College students; Who Cares Scotland? provide training for Edinburgh College staff, which has subsequently informed the Corporate Parenting Plan. n Support and responsibilities: Hub for Success - Partnership between Edinburgh College and Edinburgh Universities to develop a mechanism for supporting and improving FE and HE outcomes for care- experienced young people; Police Scotland - regular meetings with MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Assessments) and development of Police Drop- Ins; work with a wide range of agencies to pro...
