Further education and training in Wales - Trailblazers

Information
Further education and training in
Wales: guidance for disabled people
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Further education and training in Wales: guidance
for disabled people
Contents
Page
1. Introduction 3
2. What qualifications can I get? 4
(a) Entry requirements 4
(b) Qualifications explained 5
3. Further education options 12
4. Training and apprenticeship options 15
(a) Apprenticeships 15
(b) Modern Skills Diploma 16
(c) Skill Build 17
5. How do I choose a course or training opportunity? 17
(a) Finding out more 18
(b) How do I apply to college? 19
(c) When should I apply? 20
6. Disability-related support 20
(a) Your rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 20
(b) Assessing your needs 21
(c) What kind of support is available? 22
(d) Who provides the support I need at college? 23
(e) Promoting disability equality 25
7. Financial information 26
(a) Tuition fees 26
(b) Day-to-day living costs 27
(c) Transport costs 29
(d) Other sources of funding 30
(e) Funding a place at a specialist college 30
(f) Welfare benefits 31
8. Other services available in colleges 33
9. Useful publications 34
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10. Useful contacts 37
1. Introduction
When making decisions about learning opportunities, you may have
questions about when and where to apply, whether any extra
support is available if you have a disability, and how to fund your
studies. This booklet helps you think about your options in further
education and training after you have finished school in Wales. It is
also useful if you are older and considering going back into
education.
What is further education and training?
Further education is usually for people aged 16 or over, and you
can study at college, in specialist colleges, sixth form colleges
attached to schools, and in the workplace. Occasionally, people
under 16 can take further education courses at college as part of
their school-based learning.
Further education courses are mainly vocational (work-related),
rather than degree-level, and include:
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and BTEC National
Diplomas
• the Welsh Baccalaureate, GCSEs, and AS and A levels
• Welsh language courses
• basic skills courses, such as literacy and numeracy
• continuing or adult education
• courses not leading to a formal qualification, such as
independent living skills courses
• Access courses, which allow people without formal
qualifications to go on to higher education
• link courses for school pupils
• evening classes, vocational and non-vocational
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
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As well as class-based courses, there is also a range of vocational
training programmes in Wales. These usually involve on-the-job
training in the workplace and, in some cases, off-the-job training at
college. Training programmes are also available for people in
employment who want to develop or update certain skills, or for
people about to start work.
Training programmes allow you to improve your job skills while
providing you with practical work experience and, in many cases,
formal qualifications. These include pre-employment training
programmes, as well as training on the job schemes including:
• Apprenticeships
• Modern Skills Diplomas
• Skill Build.
2. What qualifications can I get?
There are many different types of qualifications available in Welsh
colleges. These range from basic starter courses to general
educational courses to more specialised work-related qualifications.
Many colleges also offer higher education courses such as Higher
National Diplomas and degree courses. For more details about
these, see Skill’s booklet Higher education in Wales: guidance
for disabled people. If you are not sure which level you want to
study at, you might want to speak to the college admissions
department or a Careers Wales adviser before you apply.
(a) Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary depending on the type and level of course.
Although some courses ask for standard entry qualifications, such
as GCSEs, NVQs or Key Skills, not all college programmes ask for
formal qualifications.
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If you are returning to study after a break in education or you don’t
have the standard entry qualifications, you may be able to take
Access or introductory programmes. These give you the
background for further study in your chosen subject.
(b) Qualifications explained
Most qualifications fit into the new Qualifications and Credit
Framework (QCF). This is a system for recognising skills and
qualifications across the UK. It helps you understand how different
qualifications compare with each other and what qualifications you
might need for a particular job or course.
Every qualification has a credit value (1 credit = 10 hours) showing
how much time it takes to complete and a level (from entry level at
the bottom to level 8 at the top), showing how difficult it is.
There are three types of qualifications in the QCF:
• Awards (1 to 12 credits)
• Certifictes (13 to 36 credits)
• Diplomas (37 credits or more).
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QCF
level
Entry
level
General qualifications
Entry-level certificates at levels
1, 2 and 3
Skills for Life (entry levels 1, 2
and 3)
Vocational qualifications
Vocational entry-level
qualifications (for example,
City and Guilds, OCR)
BTEC Certificates in Life Skills
/ Skills for Working Life
1
2
3
GCSEs (grades D to G) Vocational GCSEs (grades D
to G)
Key Skills level 1
BTEC Introductory Diplomas
and Certificates
Skills for Life level 1 NVQ level 1
Welsh Baccalaureate
Vocational level 1
Foundation Diploma
qualifications (for example,
City and Guilds, OCR
Nationals)
GCSEs (grades A* to C) Vocational GCSEs (grades A*
to C)
Key Skills level 2
BTEC First Diplomas and
Certificates
Skills for Life level 2 NVQ level 2
Welsh Baccalaureate
Vocational level 2
Intermediate Diploma
qualifications (for example,
City and Guild, OCR Nationals)
AS and A levels
Advanced Extension Awards
GCE in applied subjects
BTEC National Diplomas,
Certificates and Awards
NVQ level 3
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced
Diploma
Key Skills level 3 Vocational level 3
qualifications (for example,
City and Guilds, OCR)
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General further education qualifications
You can take many general qualifications in schools and colleges,
as well as in the workplace.
• Entry-level qualifications
These courses help you to build basic knowledge and skills.
They can be a good starting point if you are not yet ready to
take GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. They may also be
useful for older learners who have been out of the education
system for a long time. They are available at 3 levels, and
completing them successfully can help you move on to other
courses, such as Skills for Life, Key Skills, GCSEs, NVQs, or
into a job or apprenticeship.
• Skills for Life qualifications
Also known as Basic Skills courses, these can help you to
develop the skills you use in everyday life, such as reading,
writing and numbers. They are available at three entry levels,
as well as levels 1 and 2 on the National Qualifications
Framework. The Certificates are available in four subjects:
- adult literacy
- adult numeracy
- information and communication technology (ICT)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs)
Although GCSEs are the main qualifications for 14 to 16 year
olds in schools, anyone over 16 in colleges and other learning
centres can take them. They are available in a range of
subjects, and if you study full-time they should take five terms
to complete. If you are thinking about higher education, you
may need GCSEs in certain subjects.
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• AS/A Levels and Advanced Extension Awards
AS (Advanced Subsidiary) and A (Advanced) level
qualifications focus on in-depth study of particular subjects.
They are particularly useful for entry to higher education as
well as employment. A levels usually take two years to
complete full-time, and are made up of the AS level and the
A2. The AS level can either be taken as a single qualification
in the first year, or as the first half of the full A level. If you
decide to go on to the second year this is known as the A2.
If you are likely to get an A grade at A level in a particular
subject, you might want to consider taking an Advanced
Extension Award (AEA) in that subject. This allows you to
build on the knowledge you have gained during your A level
studies at a higher level, and is useful for university entry.
• Welsh Baccalaureate
This is a qualification for students in Wales. It combines
personal development skills with existing qualifications such as
A levels, NVQs and GCSEs to make one wider award that is
valued by employers and universities. You can study in
English or Welsh, or a combination of both, and there are three
levels:
- Foundation Diploma (for students likely to achieve mainly
D to G grades at GCSE or NVQ level 1 or equivalent).
- Intermediate Diploma (for students likely to achieve mainly
A* to C grades at GCSE or NVQ level 2 or equivalent).
- Advanced Diploma (for students likely to achieve A levels
or NVQ level 3 or equivalent).
To achieve the qualification you must complete a Core
Programme of key skills, along with your chosen ‘Options’ (for
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example, GCSEs, AS/A Levels, BTEC or NVQs)
• Key Skills qualifications
Key Skills are the skills that are commonly needed in everyday
life, for education, training, and work. Anyone can take the
qualifications and you can study them alongside other
qualifications. There are six different subjects:
- Communication
- Application of Numbers
- Information and Communication Technology
- Working with Others
- Improving Own Learning and Performance
- Problem Solving.
Key Skills qualifications can be useful for moving on to further
study or employment, and they also give you university entry
points. UCAS, the university applications service, have a Tariff
system that gives points to different qualifications. This means
that you can use a range of qualifications to help get you a
place on an undergraduate course.
• Welsh language courses
As well as being able to take most of the above qualifications
in Welsh, there are also a range of language courses for
people who want to learn Welsh. You can take these in
school, colleges, universities, adult education centres, and
other community centres.
Vocational further education qualifications
Vocational qualifications are work-related qualifications aimed at
giving you the skills and knowledge you will need in employment.
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
NVQs give you the opportunity to learn practical, work-related
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tasks which are essential for particular jobs. There are NVQs
which apply to most types of jobs, and they are available at
college or in the workplace, or by a mix of college attendance
and workplace training. In some cases, NVQs are also
available to school pupils.
NVQs are intended to guarantee your ability to do a particular
job. They are available at five levels, and are available to
people who either have job or an apprenticeship, or access to
a work placement.
• Vocational GCSEs
Vocational, or ‘applied’ GCSEs, are more related to work than
traditional GCSEs. They are useful if you want to go straight
into a particular job. Many applied GCSEs are the same as
taking two traditional GCSEs, and you can also take them as
short courses (equivalent to half a full GCSE). You can take
applied and traditional GCSEs at the same time.
• GCEs in applied subjects (or ‘vocational A levels’)
General Certificates of Education (GCEs) in applied subjects
are sometimes known as vocational A levels. They replace
AVCEs and Advanced GNVQs, and are available at four
levels: AS level, AS (double award), A level, and A level
(double award).
There are 10 subjects, which give a broad introduction to a
vocational area, such as business or leisure and recreation,
and are designed to prepare you for the world of work.
Different awarding bodies offer different subjects.
• Other vocational qualifications
There is a range of other vocational qualifications available
from several awarding bodies, including Edexcel, City and
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Guilds, OCR, AQA and a range of professional bodies in
different employment areas.
BTECs (available from Edexcel) and OCR Nationals are
particular types of work-related qualifications and are available
in a wide range of subjects. Many have been designed in
collaboration with industry, which means they can provide you
with the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for.
You usually study them full or part-time at college, or
sometimes through a link between school and college.
Other courses
As well as the main further education qualifications on the National
Qualifications Framework, many Welsh colleges may also offer:
• Life Skills courses
These courses aim to help you prepare for adult life. Although
they may not always lead to a qualification, they can be useful
if you have learning difficulties and need support to become
more independent.
• Professional qualifications
For certain jobs or professions you might have to hold a
professional qualification before you can be fully qualified for
that particular job. While some people take these qualifications
while doing the job, you can study and gain these qualifications
beforehand.
• Access to university qualifications
Some colleges offer access to degree courses in partnership
with one or more universities. These are usually run at
colleges and enable people who do not hold formal
qualifications, like GCSEs, to go on to higher education.
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Most access courses are one year full-time, and can guarantee
you a place at college or university if you complete the
programme successfully. You should apply direct to the
college you would like to attend.
Higher education level qualifications in colleges
For full details of higher education level qualifications, such as
Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) or degree courses, see Skill’s
booklet Higher education in Wales: guidance for disabled
people.
3. Further education options
There are various ways to study further education courses,
including:
Staying on at school
You may be able to stay at your current school if it accepts students
beyond age 16. You can take academic courses such as A levels,
or work-based courses such as NVQs. You could also consider
changing to a different sixth form school for a better course or
better support. Your school should be able to advise you about
what is best.
If you are leaving your school, your local careers service or Careers
Wales adviser can help you find a new place to learn or train.
Gradual transition opportunities
Many young people may find it easier to start a college course by
making a gradual transition from school to college. Many schools
offer ‘link courses’ which allow pupils to take part in college courses
while they are still at school. This may involve going to college for
one or more days a week until you are ready to attend on a full or
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part-time basis.
If you are older, you may be able to take evening classes before
you apply to do a full-time course at college to try out the college
and its facilities beforehand.
Further education (FE) colleges
You may find your local FE college offers a wider range of courses
and more flexibility than your school. You can study full-time or
part-time, or you may be able to take some courses as evening
classes. FE colleges provide courses for people of all ages.
Sixth form colleges
If your school has a sixth form, you may want to stay on to take a
further education course. If your school does not have a sixth form,
you could transfer to another school or college. Sixth form colleges
provide courses for students aged 16 to 19, although there may be
less choice of courses than in an FE college.
Specialist colleges
If your local school or college cannot meet your support needs, you
may want to think about going to a specialist college. Specialist
colleges usually have more experience of supporting students with
a range of impairments. These colleges are all around the UK
(except Scotland) and people can apply from anywhere in the
country, so you may have to travel to get there. Many of these
colleges are residential and can help you learn to live away from
home. They offer a range of education options.
You can find information on specialist residential colleges in the
COPE: Directory of post-16 residential education and training
for young people with special needs.
You can also contact the Association of National Specialist
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Colleges (Natspec) for information about their colleges. You should
also find these directories in your local library. Your local Careers
Wales office will have copies and they should be able to help you
find the best option.
There are four specialist residential colleges in Wales.
• Beechwood College (Sully)
• Coleg Elidyr (Rhandirmwyn)
• Mencap National College – Pengwern (Rhuddlan)
• Womaston School (Walton, near Presteigne).
See the Useful Contacts section for details.
Open or distance learning
If you don’t want to attend a course at a set time or place, you
might want to think about studying in your own time at home or at
work instead. This is called ‘open learning’ and courses operate in
different ways. On correspondence courses, you might be sent a
list of books and sheets to work through. Other programmes use
different study methods like DVDs or videos, CDs or audio
cassettes, computer software, course websites and online
conferences. Open learning courses normally involve a mixture of
home study and sometimes attending an open learning centre or
college for tutorials or seminars. Some providers may allow you to
take part in tutorials by telephone or by online conferencing.
‘Distance learning’ is another term for studying on your own, at
home or wherever suits you. Open and distance learning allow you
to learn in a flexible way and can be ideal if you may have difficulty
attending a full-time university. Because you’re mostly studying at
home, you don’t have to worry about travelling or getting about a
campus. And because you’re studying at the times you choose, you
can vary your study hours to compensate for good days and bad
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days. For more information, see Skill’s information booklet
Opportunities in open or distance learning.
Paid time off for study or training
If you are 16 or 17 and currently working, you may be able to get
some paid time off from work to study if you are not yet qualified to
level 2. The types of qualifications you could study for include
GCSEs, vocational GCSEs, NVQs and BTECs. They are taught at
local colleges, by distance learning, or in the workplace. Contact
your local Careers Wales service for more information.
4. Training and apprenticeship options
There are a number of training programmes available in Wales to
help you get into a specific job or improve your job skills if you are
already working. Most involve work-based learning or placements,
as well as support from training providers. Some are aimed at
specific age groups, while others are open to anyone.
Depending on the type of programme, you might get paid as you
are working. Sometimes you can study for a qualification at the
same time. This may involve spending part of your time at college.
You can find out more about training programmes from Careers
Wales and Jobcentre Plus. See the Useful Contacts section for
details.
(a) Apprenticeships
These are work-based training programmes for young people.
They give you the opportunity to be employed within your chosen
industry while learning the skills you need through a combination of
work-based and college learning.
If you combine a job with a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship or
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Apprenticeship then you won’t have to pay for your training. While
you are training you will also receive a wage or, in some cases, a
training allowance. If you are disabled, you may still qualify for
certain welfare benefits during your training.
There are two kinds of Apprenticeships.
• Foundation Modern Apprenticeships
These programmes are mainly for young people aged 16 to 18
who want to learn while they are in a job. If you are already
employed, you will be paid a wage by your employer, and if
you are on a placement you will receive a training allowance of
at least £50 per week. Successful completion will give you an
NVQ level 2 qualification and the opportunity to move on to a
full Apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeships
These are for people of any age, and lead to an NVQ level 3
qualification. They combine practical on-the-job training with
college learning, and you get paid a wage from your employer.
Apprenticeships normally take three to four years to complete
and can be useful entry qualifications for higher education
courses such as degrees.
(b) Modern Skills Diploma
If you are already in work, you might want to think about a Modern
Skills Diploma. These are aimed at adults (over 25) and give you
extra work-related skills and knowledge. You continue to earn your
normal wage while the scheme pays for off-the-job training to bring
your skills up to NVQ level 4.
(c) Skill Build
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Skill Build is mainly aimed at young people aged between 16 and
18 who are out of work. Skill Build can help you find a job that best
suits you through job tasters, as well as the opportunity of gaining
an NVQ level 1 qualification. Programmes last at least 13 weeks,
and you will gain skills useful for many different jobs, as well as
essential skills such as reading, writing and maths.
If you are under 18 you may be eligible for a learners’ allowance
(minimum of £50 per week). If you are aged over 18 contact your
local Jobcentre Plus to find out what you might receive.
Skill Build +
Skill Build + is similar to Skill Build, but open to anyone aged 16 or
over. It is more focused on providing the skills you need to get
back into work. You will work towards a qualification that is
recognised anywhere in Wales, such as NVQ levels 1 to 3.
Skill Build + Employed is for employed learners wanting to study
basic skills. The programme normally lasts up to 39 weeks.
For more information on any of the Skill Build programmes contact
your local Careers Wales or Jobcentre Plus office.
5. How do I choose a course or training
opportunity?
It is important to start thinking about your future early so you can
plan ahead. If you are at school, talk to teachers, your parents and
careers advisers. Sometimes people think they cannot study
certain subjects because of their impairment or additional support
need. This is usually not true.
You can find sources of advice and support and useful websites
that will help you find a course in the Useful Contacts section of this
booklet.
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There are several things you may need to think about, such as:
• will the course or training programme help you get the job you
want?
• what subject do you want to study?
• do you want to study full-time, part-time or by distance
learning?
• which teaching methods will the college use?
• what assessments does the college use?
• are there entry requirements? If so, do you meet them?
• do you want to take a course or training programme that is
work-based?
• what support is available to help you study?
• will you be able to get funding for transport to college?
(a) Finding out more
It is useful to find out as much as you can before you choose a
course or training programme.
Looking at websites or prospectuses
Most colleges have information on their websites, or a prospectus
(guide) which gives details about the college and its courses. They
must also publish a Disability Equality Scheme telling people how
the college promotes equal opportunities for all disabled staff,
students and people using its facilities. You can ask your college to
send you this information.
All colleges have a staff member who is responsible for disabled
students, so it is best to speak to them about your individual needs.
They are often called Additional Learning Support (ALS) advisers or
Disability Coordinators. You can find contact details for support
staff in Welsh colleges on the Skill website at www.skill.org.uk.
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Click on Institutions then select Into Further Education Listings.
Careers services
You might find it helpful to arrange a meeting with the college’s
course tutor or careers adviser or a Careers Wales adviser. You
might also want to speak to Learndirect Cymru/Wales who have
information on all the courses available in Wales. See the Useful
Contacts section.
College visits, open days and student ambassadors
It is very important to visit any college you are considering and
meet the disability or ALS adviser. They can tell you about flexible
study methods, equipment available to help you study, accessibility
issues and adjustments the college can make for you. If you are
still at school, ask if a student ambassador from the college can
visit to tell you more about their experiences.
(b) How do I apply to college?
Once you decide which course you would like to take, you can
either ask the college to send you an application form or download
one from their website. You might find it useful to visit the college
after you apply to talk to college staff about the support you might
need when you start the course.
The application form may ask if you have a disability or additional
support needs. You don’t need to fill this in if you don’t want to.
However, if you do the college will be able to meet your needs
more effectively. All the information you give the college about
your disability or support needs will be kept private and will not be
passed on to anyone else unless you give your permission.
It is against the law for colleges to discriminate against you
because you are disabled.
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(c) When should I apply?
Once you have decided which course you want to take, you should
apply to the college as early as possible. This will give the college
time to put your support in place and it increases your chances of
getting accepted on the course you want to do.
6. Disability-related support
It is important to find a course that interests you, and it is also
important that your college or training provider offers you the extra
support you need because of your disability or learning difficulty.
(a) Your rights under the Disability Discrimination Act
Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) says that all
education and training providers must make reasonable
adjustments to ensure disabled people can access education.
Adjustments might include providing course materials in electronic
formats if you are visually impaired, or one-to-one help in the
classroom if you have a learning difficulty.
School sixth form education is also covered by the pre-16
education section of the Act. Work-based learning held at a private
training provider is covered by Part 3 of the Act, which is about
providing goods, facilities and services.
For more information on your rights, see Skill’s information booklet
Understanding the Disability Discrimination Act: information
for disabled students.
(b) Assessing your needs
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School
Some school pupils have a Statement of Special Educational
Needs which says what their individual learning needs are and
what support they should receive. When you reach the age of 16,
the Statement is only valid if you stay on at school in the sixth form.
If you are leaving school and moving straight to college, you may
have had an assessment or careers guidance interview with
Careers Wales. This is useful to explore future learning or
employment opportunities. With your permission, your school or
Careers Wales adviser should pass on any information from this
assessment about your particular needs to the college. This will
help the college to plan for the support you need to learn.
Colleges
If you decide to go to college, there are lots of different kinds of
support available for disabled students. To find out what support
you might need it is a good idea to speak to the college support
staff before you start. They are usually called Additional Learning
Support advisers or Disability Advisers. You will be able to talk
about your course, the support you have used before and any new
support that the college might be able to provide.
If necessary, the college might carry out a formal assessment of
your needs to make sure you get the support you need to help you
study. Colleges receive money from the Welsh Assembly
Government to pay for supporting disabled students.
If you have come straight from school, your school or Careers
Wales adviser should have passed on any information (with your
permission) to the college about your particular needs. If you are
older, it is a good idea to contact or visit the college a few months
21

efore you start to make sure that they know about your needs. It’s
also a way of getting to know the college.
Training programmes
If you are thinking of starting a work-based learning or training
programme, either the college or the employer/training provider will
be responsible for meeting your support needs, depending on the
programme you choose. Contact the individual employer or
training provider, your careers adviser at school or college, or
Careers Wales for more information.
(c) What kind of support is available?
School
At school, your local authority must make sure you get the support
you need. The support you have had up until now should still be
available to you, whether you continue studying at the same school
or move to a different school.
Colleges
All colleges have a duty to meet the needs of all disabled students
or students with other additional support needs. There are two
ways of getting support from your college.
• You can either take part in mainstream courses
(disabled and non-disabled students studying together),
where the college will give you the support you need to
succeed on your course. This might include extra
teaching if you have dyslexia, an interpreter if you are
deaf, flexible timetables, or materials in alternative formats
such as Braille or computer software; or
• You can take part in courses which are specifically
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designed for students with learning difficulties or
students who have complex needs. These
programmes have fewer students than a mainstream class
and all the students on the course will need additional
support to help their learning. This might include Skills for
Life courses to develop your maths, reading and writing
skills, or Independent Living Skills courses which prepare
you for adult life.
Disability or Additional Learning Support advisers at colleges
arrange disability support within the college. You should contact
them to discuss your individual support needs before you start your
course.
Specialist colleges
These colleges provide further education for disabled people only.
Some specialist colleges cater for all disabled students, while
others are mainly for students with a particular impairment.
Specialist colleges may give you the kind of equipment or
supported learning that might not be available at your local college.
Work-based learning or training programmes
If you are taking part in work-based learning (such as an NVQ) or
training or apprenticeship programmes, you should be supported to
take part in and successfully complete the training. Because each
programme is different, you should contact the provider to find out
who will be responsible for arranging your support.
(d) Who provides the support I need at college?
If you are disabled you may need different kinds of support from
different people while you are at college. It is important to know
who is responsible for meeting your needs.
• Educational needs
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Colleges are responsible for meeting your educational needs.
These might include learning materials in alternative formats, a
sign language interpreter, or computer software. Colleges can
also help with study skills, specialised equipment training or
arranging for extra time in exams if you need this because of
your impairment.
• Personal care support
Social services are the main source of help for personal care
support for your daily living needs. Personal care support
might include help using the toilet, someone to help you travel
to college, or help to prepare a meal. All disabled people have
the right to an assessment of their needs. If you think you
might need personal care support you should apply to your
local social services for an assessment as early as possible.
• Healthcare needs
When social services make your needs assessment, they may
find that you need healthcare support as well as your personal
care support, such as someone to give you medication at
college. If this is the case, your Local Health Board will be
responsible for providing that support.
• Careers advice
Your college or Careers Wales careers adviser can help you
work out which education, training or employment options suits
you best. They can also give information and advice about the
support available after college if you have additional needs.
• Transport needs
By law, local authorities must make sure that students are not
prevented from attending college because of transport
difficulties. Local authorities and their partners are encouraged
24

to provide transport support to disabled students until at least
the age of 21, and ideally up to 25. Local authorities must
consider your individual circumstances before refusing to help
with transport. Contact your local authority to find out what
transport support they provide. Social services can also pay
for transport to and from the college, but this depends on their
financial resources.
Work-based learning or training programmes
Jobcentre Plus says that disabled people should get extra support
to enable them to take part in mainstream training. When this is not
possible, residential training with disability-related support should
be made available.
You may also be able to claim back any extra money you have to
spend on travelling to your training placement. For further
information, contact your local Careers Wales centre or the
Disability Adviser at your local jobcentre.
If you are getting paid a wage while doing work-based learning, you
should be entitled to disability-related support and funding from the
Access to Work scheme. Contact Jobcentre Plus or read Skill’s
information booklet Help for disabled jobseekers from Jobcentre
Plus for details.
(e) Promoting disability equality
From December 2006, all public bodies (including colleges and
universities) have to follow the Disability Equality Duty (DED)
as part of the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that all
colleges and universities must promote equal opportunities for
disabled people and take into account the impact of all activities on
disabled people. The DED is about improving public bodies’
policies and services as a whole for disabled people, rather than
25

focusing on individual disabled people’s rights.
Certain listed public bodies also have to produce a Disability
Equality Scheme every three years. All colleges and universities
have to show how they have involved disabled people in producing
their scheme and how they have assessed the impact of their
activities on disability equality. For example, if your college plans to
introduce a new computer system, they must consider how
accessible it is and how else it might affect disabled people before
installing it.
If you want to read more about the DED, see the resources on the
former Disability Rights Commission website at
www.dotheduty.org.
7. Financial information
It is important to think about your finances before you enrol on a
course to make sure that you can afford to go to college. There are
various sources of funding available depending on the type of
course you are doing and your own circumstances.
The information in this section is intended as a general guide for
students taking further education level courses at college.
(a) Tuition fees
19 or under
Welsh students can get free education up to the age of 19, or up to
25 if you are studying for your first full Level 3 qualification.
Over 19
If you are over 19, you may have to pay tuition fees. However, you
may get a fee remission (no fees are charged) or discounted fees if
you qualify for this scheme. Each college sets its own rules, but the
26

emission or discount scheme often includes people on meanstested
benefits or low incomes, or disabled learners. Some colleges
offer fee remissions to all full-time students. Contact the student
welfare or awards officer at your college to see if you qualify.
Individual Learning Account (ILA) Wales
ILAs can help you pay for the training you need to improve your
skills. You can use an ILA to help pay for fees and books for your
course, and you do not have to pay the money back.
You will qualify if you are aged 18 or over and living in Wales, and:
• you or your partner are claiming income-related benefits
(giving you an allowance of up to £200); or
• you have no formal qualifications or the highest qualification
you hold is no higher than a GCSE or equivalent (giving you an
allowance of up to £100).
For more information on ILA Wales go to www.ilawales.co.uk/.
Career Development Loans
These are loans from high street banks of between £300 and
£8,000 which you can borrow to fund any course that will help your
career. The Government pays the interest on the loan while you
are studying. You can’t use a Career Development Loan to pay for
anything that is being funded by another source, so if you are
already getting a grant you can’t apply. Call 0800 585 505 for more
information about this scheme.
(b) Day-to-day living costs
There are two main forms of support towards your living costs.
27

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is available to young people who want to continue their
education after the school leaving age. Depending on your family’s
income, you could get £40, £80 or £120 per month, which you can
spend on whatever you want. You have to sign a Learning
Agreement with your school or college which sets achievement
targets for your course. If you meet the attendance and
performance objectives in your Learning Agreement, you can earn
bonus payments of £100 on top of your regular EMA payments.
You will be eligible for an EMA if you are:
• aged between 16 and 18 on 1 September before starting your
course; and
• taking a further education course up to and including level 3
(for example, GCSEs, BTECs, NVQs - see page 5); and
• doing at least 12 hours learning per week at a further
education college, or full-time at a school or sixth form college.
The amount you can get depends on your family’s household
income. For courses starting between 1 September 2008 and 31
August 2009, the amounts are:
Annual Household
Income
Weekly EMA
allowance
Up to £21,330 £30
£21,331 £20
£26,161 £10
£31,581 and above £0
Assembly Learning Grant (ALG)
This grant is to help people from low-income families to access and
stay in further education. It is intended to cover the cost of books,
28

equipment, travel and childcare while you are studying. The Welsh
Assembly Government fund the grant and it is paid through your
local authority.
You will be eligible for an ALG if you are:
• aged 19 or over at the start of your course; and
• taking a course which leads to a nationally recognised
qualification which is at least 275 hours per year.
The amount you can get depends on you and/or your family’s
household income, and whether you are studying full-time or parttime.
For courses starting between 1 September 2008 and 31
August 2009, the amounts are:
Annual household
income
Part-time courses
(275 to 499 hours per
year)
Full-time courses
(500 hours per year
or more)
Up to £5,745 £750 per year £1,500 per year
£5,746 - £11, 490 £450 per year £750 per year
£11,491 £300 per year £450 per year
£17,251 £0 £0
(c) Transport costs
Many colleges in Wales offer free or subsidised transport to
students, usually on public transport. Each college has its own
policy on funding for transport, so you should check with your
college’s welfare officer for more details.
If you cannot use public transport because of your impairment, you
may be able to get additional financial support from your college.
Contributions normally depend on your income and you must not
be receiving the Motability part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
29

(d) Other sources of funding
There are various other sources of funding which you may be
eligible to apply for. These include:
• Passport to Study Grant: Some local councils award this to
16-19 year olds who stay on in full-time education. It can be
used for expenses such as books, travel and equipment.
• Financial Contingency Funds: Sometimes known as
Hardship Funds, these are open to all full-time and part-time
students, although they are particularly targeted at students
from low-income families. They can be used to pay for things
like books, travel, accommodation or general living costs.
• Charitable trust funds: Some national and local
organisations, including charities, offer grants to students
studying certain subjects or who have a particular impairment.
Your local library may hold a list of trusts or your college may
be able to give you details. Skill also produces an information
booklet called Funding from charitable trusts, with details of
trusts and advice on how to apply.
(e) Funding a place at a specialist college
If the type of education or support you need is not available at your
local FE college, you may be able to go to a specialist or residential
college. Ask your school or Careers Wales adviser for more
information.
The Welsh Assembly Government has a duty to fund specialist
places for students under 19 if their needs cannot be met in a
mainstream college or school. They also have the power to fund
specialist places for students between the ages of 19 and 25 if their
needs cannot be met elsewhere. If part of the cost of your place at
a residential college is for personal care, then Social services may
pay for your place or contribute towards it.
30

(f) Welfare benefits
As a disabled person you may get certain welfare benefits, such as
Income Support or Housing Benefit. Contact Jobcentre Plus or
your local benefits office if you have any general enquiries about
benefits or how to apply for them. See the Useful Contacts section
for details.
Before you start your course, you need to find out how studying
might affect your benefits. You must tell your local Jobcentre Plus
or your local benefits office of any major change in your
circumstances, such as starting a course, as soon as it happens.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
In general, starting a course should not affect your Disability Living
Allowance (DLA). This is a benefit to meet your home needs and is
not related to your study. However, the care component of DLA
may be stopped if:
• you are attending a residential college where care is provided
as part of the service, but you should continue to get some of
the care component for any time you are at home; or
• you receive the care component because you have been
assessed as unable to do a certain activity but are studying a
course that focuses on this activity. For example, if you have
been assessed as unable to prepare a meal but you are doing
a catering course, then the care component may be stopped.
Income Support
Some students, including some disabled students, may be eligible
for Income Support while studying. As a disabled student, you can
apply for Income Support if:
• you qualify for a disability premium; or
• you have been incapable of work for a continuous period of at
least 28 weeks.
31

If you get Income Support and are attending a residential college
you may be asked to contribute part or all of your benefits. This
generally depends on who is paying for your residential placement.
See Skill’s information booklet Income Support for disabled
students for further information.
Housing Benefit
You can claim Housing Benefit and study full time or part time.
For full-time study, the main ways of claiming are:
• if you qualify for a disability premium; or
• if you receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s
Allowance.
You can get Housing Benefit if you live in accommodation owned
by the college, such as Halls of Residence. For more information,
see Skill’s information booklet Housing Benefit and Council Tax
Benefit for disabled students.
Receiving benefits as ‘incapable of work’
Students who are under 19 and get Incapacity Benefit are only
allowed to do up to 21 hours of mainstream education per week.
This does not include any specialist support or study time involved.
Apart from this, there is no other rule that says you cannot get
Incapacity Benefit while you are studying. Sometimes Jobcentre
Plus or the Benefits Agency may assume that as you are studying
or are planning to study, you may no longer be ‘incapable of work’.
This is not automatically true.
If you get Incapacity Benefit and you are attending a residential
college, you may be asked to contribute part or all of your benefits.
This generally depends on who is paying for your residential
placement.
32

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced Incapacity
Benefit for new claimants from 27 October 2008. See Skill’s
information booklet Studying and claiming benefits as
‘incapable of work’ for further information.
8. Other services available in colleges
As well as thinking about your financial situation, you may also
need to know what other support is available if you decide to go to
college, such as childcare or study skills support. Each college is
likely to offer different services, so you should ask the college you
want to attend what they can offer.
Childcare
Some colleges may be able to contribute towards the cost of
childcare if you meet their eligibility criteria. This might include
helping you pay for a childminder, afterschool care or a nursery
place. Some colleges may have their own childcare facilities which
you can use if you are a registered student.
Study skills support
You may find that there are certain skills you need to improve on to
make the most of your time at college, particularly if you have been
out of education for a while. Most colleges offer study skills support
such as help with reading and writing, working with numbers,
improving your memory and concentration, computer skills, or
improving your handwriting.
Some colleges may also offer specialist support services such as
adult literacy, using assistive technology, or subject-specific
support. These may be combined with any disability or learning
difficulty support you might be getting.
33

Accommodation
A few colleges may have their own accommodation in the form of
halls of residence. For those that don’t, most colleges will be able
to give you financial advice or lists of approved accommodation in
the local area.
Students’ Unions
Many colleges will have a Students’ Union, run by students for the
benefit of students. Students’ Unions can offer social and
recreational activities, advice and support, and can represent you if
things go wrong.
If you join the National Union of Students (NUS), you will be able to
get big discounts on many products and services. Getting involved
in your students’ union will also give you the chance to work with
college managers to influence decisions about the running of the
college and make it better for disabled students.
Guidance and welfare
Most colleges have trained staff members who can give advice and
guidance on a range of matters, such as courses, careers, or how
to re-train. You can also arrange a confidential appointment with a
welfare officer if you need to discuss financial difficulties, personal
matters or other issues.
9. Useful Publications
Skill information booklets
These are particularly relevant to further education and training:
• Adjustments for disabled students
• Assistive Technology: sources of help and information
• Funding from charitable trusts
34

• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for disabled
students Opportunities in open and distance learning
• Organisations offering advice and services to disabled
people
• Improving access to the physical environment
• Income support for disabled students
• Studying and claiming benefits as ‘incapable of work’
• Tax Credits for disabled students
• Understanding the Disability Discrimination Act: information
for disabled students
As a disabled student or potential student you can request up to
five information booklets free of charge. There is a charge of £2.50
per booklet for additional booklets and to professionals. All booklets
can be downloaded as A4 sheets from our website. Click on
Information, then Information Sheets, or go direct to
www.skill.org.uk/page.aspx?c=10&p=106.
Skill Publications
Into Series £2.50 to students, £6.50 to professionals
• Into Architecture
• Into Art
• Into Law
• Into Medicine
• Into Nursing and Midwifery
• Into Science and Engineering
• Into Teaching
• Into Volunteering
• Into Work Experience
Available to order on our website at
www.skill.org.uk/shop/shop.asp or contact Skill.
35

Other Publications
Association of National Specialist Colleges Directory
Published by Natspec. For copies, contact:
Queen Alexandra College
Tel: 0121 428 5050 Email: allformats@qac.ac.uk
Homefield College
Tel: 01509 814827 Email: enquiries@homefieldcollege.ac.uk
Derwen College
Tel: 01691 661234 Email: treasurer@natspec.org.uk
A searchable version of the directory is available on their website.
Website: www.natspec.org.uk/index.php?id=4
COPE: Directory of post-16 residential education and training
for young people with special needs
Priced. Published by Lifetime Publishing. Available from Lifetime
Publishing, Mill House, Stallard Street, Trowbridge,
Wiltshire BA14 8HH
Tel: 01225 716023
Fax: 01225 716025
Website (online shop): http://eshop.nald-sw.co.uk/
Disability Rights Handbook. A guide to benefits and services
for all disabled people, their families, carers and advisers
Updated annually and published by the Disability Alliance,
Universal House, 88-94 Wentworth Street, London E1 7SA
Tel/textphone: 020 7247 8776 Fax: 020 7247 8765
Email: office.da@dial.pipex.com
Website: www.disabilityalliance.org
The telephone line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, but it
is not an advice line. Download a publications order form from
the website.
36

Schools for Special Needs – A Complete Guide
Published by Gabbitas Educational Consultants Ltd., Carrington
House, 126-130 Regent Street, London W1B 5EE
Tel: 020 7734 0161 Fax: 020 7437 1764
Email: ana.morris@gabbitas.co.uk
Website: www.gabbitas.co.uk
This guide lists independent, non-maintained and state-maintained
special schools and colleges, plus independent mainstream
schools with special provisions.
10. Useful Contacts
Websites:
Funky Dragon
The Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales.
www.funkydragon.org.uk/index.asp
CLIC
The information website for young people in Wales.
http://cliconline.co.uk/news/
Direct Government
• Website for disabled people and further education:
www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/FurtherE
ducation/fs/en
• Website for disabled people and employment or work schemes:
www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/Employment/fs/en
37

Disability Wales
An independent, not-for-profit, membership organisation of
disability groups and friends from across Wales. Gives information
on disability issues.
Website: www.disabilitywales.org/
Hot Courses
Search for non-degree courses.
www.hotcourses.com
Organisations:
Assessment Centres (Wales)
Assessment Centre Cardiff
Disability and Dyslexia Service
Student Support Centre, Cardiff University
50 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
Tel: 029 2087 9127
Email: dyslexia@cardiff.ac.uk
Website: www.cf.ac.uk/dyslx/index.html
Bangor University
Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynned, LL57 2UX
Tel: 01248 388101
Fax: 01248 388101
Email: access_centre@bangor.ac.uk
Website: www.bangor.ac.uk/access-centre/
Bridgend College
Cowbridge Road, Bridgend, South Wales, CF31 3DF
Tel: 01656 302561
Email: kmjones@bridgend.ac.uk
38

Carmarthen
Pibwrlwyd Campus, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 2NH
Tel: 01554 748276 or 01554 748132
Email: sarah.bury@colegsirgar.ac.uk
Glyndwr University
Student Services PP22s, Plas Coch Campus, Mold Road,
Wrexham, LL11 2AW
Tel: 01978 293 254
Email: assessmentcentre@glyndwr.ac.uk
Website: www.glyndwr.ac.uk/assessmentcentre
Newport
Clarence House, Clarence Place, Newport, South Wales,
NP19 7AA
Tel: 01633 243 060
Fax: 01633 253 035
Email: newport@chace.ac.uk
Swansea
Disability Office, University of Wales, Grove Extension Building,
Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP
Tel: 01792 513000
Email: Adele.Jones@swansea.ac.uk
www.swan.ac.uk/study/current/StudentSupportServices/DisabilityOf
fice/
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC)
The Disability Services, UWIC, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
Tel: 029 2041 6170
Email: disability@uwic.ac.uk
39

British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell
RG12 7BW
Telephone: 0118 966 2677 Fax: 0118 935 1927
Helpline: 0118 966 8271 open Monday to Thursday
from 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm
Careers Wales
Website: www.careerswales.org.com
This service that gives people of all ages in Wales free careers
information, advice and guidance. You can ask for a specialist
careers adviser if you have learning support needs. Call 0800 100
900 to find your nearest Careers Wales office.
Children in Wales
The national umbrella organisation for those working with children
and young people in Wales.
25 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ
Tel: 029 2034 2434
Fax: 029 2034 3134
Email (general enquiries): info@childreninwales.org.uk
Website: www.childreninwales.org.uk/index.html
Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and
Skills (DCELLS)
Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Email: education.training@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/department/dcells
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
40

Helpline Wales
Freepost RRLR-UEYB-UYZL,1st Floor,3 Callaghan Square
Cardiff, CF10 5BT
Tel: 0845 604 8810
Textphone: 0845 604 8820
Fax: 0845 604 8830
Email: waleshelpline@equalityhumanrights.com
Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
Linden Court, Ilex Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5DZ
Tel: 029 2076 1861
Website: www.hefcw.ac.uk
Email: info@hefcw.ac.uk
Individual Learning Account (ILA) Wales
For application forms, contact learndirect on freephone 0800 100
900. Go to www.ilawales.co.uk/ for more information on eligibility
and amounts.
Jobcentre Plus
To find your local jobcentre visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) are based at your local
Jobcentre Plus.
learndirect Cymru/Wales
PO Box 900, Leicester, LE1 6ER
Tel/textphone: 0800 101 901 from 7am-11pm every day.
Website: www.learndirect.co.uk/wales-cym/
For a database of all UK courses and information on learning,
careers, funding, qualifications and CVs.
Learning Disability Wales
41

Works to create a Wales that values and includes every child and
adult with a learning disability.
41 Lambourne Crescent, Cardiff Business Park, Llanishen,
Cardiff, CF14 5GG
Telephone: 029 2068 1160
Fax: 029 2075 2149
There is an email enquiry form on their website.
Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
Website: www.learningdisabilitywales.org.uk/
National Autistic Society (NAS) Cymru
For people with autism and Asperger syndrome. Provides
information about support and services, volunteering, campaigning,
fundraising and lobbying in Wales.
6/7 Village Way, Greenmeadow Springs Business Park,
Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7NE
Tel: 029 2062 9312
Fax: 029 2062 9317
Email: wales@nas.org.uk
Website: www.nas.org.uk/ and click on NAS across the UK
Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) Cymru
Works for people in Wales with serious sight loss.
Trident Court, East Moors Road, Cardiff CF24 5TD
Tel: 029 2045 0440
Fax: 029 2044 9550
Email: gwenda.fitzpatrick@rnib.org.uk
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) Cymru
Represents deaf and hard of hearing people and their families who
live in Wales.
16 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LJ
Telephone: 029 2033 3034
42

Textphone: 029 2033 3036
Fax: 029 2033 3035
Email: rnidcymru@rnid.org.uk
Website: www.rnid.org.uk/about/in_your_area/wales/
Scope Cymru
The Wales branch of the national charity for people with cerebral
palsy.
The Wharf, Schooner Way, Cardiff CF10 4EU
Tel: 029 2046 1703
Fax: 029 2046 1705
Website: www.scope.org.uk/local/wales.shtml
SNAP Cymru
A charity that offers information and support to families of children
and young people who have special educational needs.
National Helpline: 0845 120 3730
Typetalk prefix: 18001
Textphone: 0845 122 8673
Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10am-4pm; Wednesday and
Thursday 10am-8pm
Social Work Departments
These are part of local councils. Their contact details are listed in
the phone book (under the council name) or you can ask your local
library or Citizens Advice Bureau.
Contact the Skill Information Service for details of other
organisations that can give specialist advice about specific
impairments.
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44
February 2009