As well as excellent teaching facilities and exciting enrichment opportunities, there are also many ways that BCoT can help you during your time at College.
In partnership with AccessAble, you can find accessibility information about the Student Support hub at BCoT here.
Autism at BCoT
The college has a very strong support system and the staff at BCoT have a good understanding of autism. We have an experienced team and an Autism Ambassador to offer help and advice.
Alexis Smith
alexis.smith@bcot.ac.uk
Lynsey Spillane
lynsey.spillane@bcot.ac.uk
Helen Key
helen.key@bcot.ac.uk
Lauren May
lauren.may@bcot.ac.uk
Danielle Boncey
danielle.boncey@bcot.ac.uk
Our dedicated careers team can give you impartial careers advice. They will help you look for work, help with your university application, give CV advice, develop interview skills and help find industry placements.
*For current BCoT students* - careers advice and support is available via email and telephone. If you need any help, please contact anna.thorpe@bcot.ac.uk
What is Career Coach?
Provided by Hampshire Careers Partnership, Career Coach is a free tool to help students and alumni find out more about careers in their chosen industry, as well as a useful CV builder.
- Careers assessments help you find the right path for you.
- Useful CV builder to help you perfect your CV for job applications.
- Detailed insights and information into a wide range of careers.
Visit Career Coach today to get the latest industry insights and careers advice to help you progress in your career.
Our college nurse is on-site every day during term time to help when you are feeling unwell.
If you have a long term health condition, the nurse will work with you and your family to ensure we have a care plan in place in order to support you in your studies. The nurse is supported by a team of first aiders who are on-call whenever the college is open.
BCoT is proud to offer a free professional and confidential counselling service all week during term time.
The college employs a team of skilled professionals who can help students to get back on track in times when they need support to deal with difficult times in their life. Our counsellors can help to deal with anxiety and depression, or cope with relationship problems, loneliness or trouble at home or whatever issue is getting in your way. Our counsellors are non-judgemental, respectful of all views and open to all our students.
We will put in place access arrangements for you in exams if you have been assessed as needing these. These may include a reader, scribe, extra time, use of word processor, small room or rest breaks.
If you had access arrangements at school, these will not automatically be carried over at BCoT; previous arrangements are invalidated by a move to a new centre. Therefore, we have to resubmit all applications following an interview and reassessment. To arrange this you need to book an appointment with the specialist assessor in the Maths & English/Support Hub. Referrals for new assessments can also be made by students, parents or tutors.
The exam boards set deadlines for submission of access arrangements and we have no control over these so assessments need to be completed within the first term at college.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Student Support on 01256 306494.
We offer a number of financial schemes to help our students. Please visit our Fees and Funding section for further information about available loans and bursaries.
Children in care are referred to as ‘looked after children’.
A child is ‘looked after’ if they are in the care of the local authority for more than 24 hours.
A child will stop being ‘looked after’ when they are either adopted, returned home or turn 18 and the local authority will continue to support children leaving care at 18 until they reach 21.
The term ‘care leaver’ refers to a young person under the age of 25 who is, or has been, in public care for a minimum of three months, since the age of 14, and was in care on their 16th birthday.
Looked after and care leaver students will be supported by the Director of Student Experience, Welfare Team and RAP Tutors who can be accessed prior to joining the College, throughout the study programme and to support progression.
They will work with all relevant staff to ensure they are fully supported and can access the following:
• Additional Learning Support
• Careers and Progression Advice
• Counselling
• Financial Support
• Transport Support and Advice
• Liaison with appropriate agencies
• Advocacy for a range of situations including entry and on course requirements.
We want all of our students to be successful and happy while they’re studying with us. That's why we work closely with parents and guardians to help make the step from school to college a success for all our students. The Parent Portal allows parents/guardians of our students to view reports, timetables, attendance, progress, results, qualifications and comments from our teaching staff.
We have a dedicated team of staff on hand to make sure you stay on track with your studies during your time at BCoT. Each vocational department has a Retention and Progression (RAP) Tutor who are here to help you focus on your course and support you during your time at college. You will have a weekly tutorial with them, they will monitor your attendance with you, offer pastoral support and advice when needed and assist you with progressing to your next step – whether that is university, an Apprenticeship, or employment.
Our Safeguarding policy and procedure applies to all of our students, particularly students aged 18 years or under and vulnerable adults.
The key objectives of the policy and guidance are to:
- Promote a safe environment for all our students to learn and achieve
- Actively promote the welfare of students
- Identify any students who may be experiencing abuse or harm in college, at home or in relationships and take appropriate action to ensure their safety (Child and Adult Protection).
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expect all staff, volunteers and students to share this commitment. For more information about this please download our safeguarding policy.
We have a dedicated team that are able to support students with a variety of additional needs and are committed to providing the highest standards of support to learners who have a disability or learning difficulty.
It is important that you give us as much information as you can on your application form so we know what additional needs you may require. We can then make sure you get the right support to help you succeed at BCoT.
You may have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). These documents tell us about the support you need so it is important we see them and discuss them with you.
If you do not have a plan but think you need one, we can request one from the local authority based on our assessment of your support needs. If you do not have a plan, there is still support available to you.
Our team is on hand if you have disabilities, learning difficulties or health problems and can support you with your studies.
We provide support for additional learning needs including:
- Physical Disabilities
- Visual Impairment
- Deaf or hard of hearing
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Mental health issues.
We would look to support your additional learning needs as much as we can, and our support will include:
- Making reasonable adjustments within teaching and learning
- In-class support from Student Support Assistants
- Overlearning and 1:1 support outside of class with Specialist Support Tutors
- Additional Maths and English coaching
- Access to assistive technology
- Special arrangements to help with exams
- Assistance with personal care
- Accessibility and personal assistance
To discuss your support needs please get in touch with our Transition Manager, Helen Key on 01256 306289 or email helen.key@bcot.ac.uk
We offer support to students with more complex needs, to see these courses please follow this link to our Specialist Provision page
We offer discounted travel packages and bursaries to our full time students, which can be paid monthly, termly or annually. Students who live outside of Basingstoke and travel to and from College by train can receive a discount on their train tickets; whereas if you travel by bus from Zone 2 areas outside Basingstoke, our partnership with Stagecoach means you could qualify for as much as 25% off bus travel.
We offer support to any student who is a young carer, including one-to-one guidance and advice. We also find support groups for students who are young carers, organise trips and enrichment activities, and can help you learn more about the Young Carers Allowance.
Wellbeing
Andover MIND
Please remember, if you don't know where to turn this Christmas, our Safe Havens are a safe place to seek support and are open 365 days a year
North and Mid Hampshire Safe Haven (Basingstoke):
6pm to 10pm 365 days a year (including Bank Holidays)
Phone: 0300 303 5772
Address: 3 Vyne Road, Basingstoke, RG21 5NL
Aldershot Safe Haven:
Monday to Friday 6pm to 11pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 12.30pm to 11pm
Address: Walpole House, Pickford Street, Aldershot, GU11 1TZ
Basingstoke Services
Migrant Help – We exist to protect people affected by displacement and exploitation, helping them to thrive and recover from their trauma.
Phone: 0808 8010 503 – Free asylum helpline open 24 hours a day, all year round.
migranthelpuk.org
Stop Domestic Abuse provides help in Hampshire for those affected by domestic abuse.
Phone: 0330 0533 630
stopdomesticabuse.uk
italk, Hampshire’s NHS talking therapy service offering wellbeing, support and treatment.
Phone: 02380 383920
italk.org.uk
Inclusion Jacobs House is Basingstoke’s Substance Misuse Service, supporting those affected by drugs and alcohol in Hampshire. 24/7, 24-hour helpline.
Phone: 0300 124 0103 for those 25 and over.
Phone: 0845 459 9405 for those 24 and under.
inclusionhants.org
Unsure where to turn? Here is a list of services, agencies, charities and community groups that offer support in and around Basingstoke.
Low Income and Benefits
Community pantries provide groceries at a lower cost than supermarkets or shops, offering a range of fresh, frozen and general foods which can change on a weekly basis. In addition, the pantries are working to help reduce food waste by working with local food businesses.
Find out more here.
Citizens Advice offers information about benefits, debt, energy costs, housing and many other areas. You can contact your local branch by telephone or fill in the online enquiry form via their website and they will contact you. They also offer a drop-in service every Monday, 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 2.30pm at Oakridge Hall for All, Forsythia Walk, Basingstoke, RG21 5RL – no appointment necessary.
Phone: 0808 2 78 78 29 – Basingstoke
Phone: 0808 2 78 79 87 – Tadley
basingstokeandtadleycab.org.uk
Turn2us are a national charity supporting people in financial need to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help by supporting online, via phone and face-to-face. Their free, confidential and independent helpline is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Phone: 0808 802 2000 – Free, confidential and independent helpline
turn2us.org.uk
Debt And Money Management Support
Money Lifeline are a Basingstoke charity offering free, independent money advice and how to handle debt at the Sarum Hill Centre. Contact them through their website, or by phone or text:
01256 351026 or 07954 040961
moneylifeline.org
Step Change provides free, independent advice on money, debt stress and how to handle debt. Offering help online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as by phone:
0800 138 1111 – Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm
stepchange.org
National Debt Line are a webchat and phone advice service on debt, arrears, bills, debt solutions, bailiffs and help with court action on debt. They also have an online budgeting tool, fact sheets and example letters.
0808 808 4000 – Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9.30am to 1pm
nationaldebtline.org
Cost Of Living Support
Help for Households is a government website with useful information about managing the current cost of living crisis.
helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk
Connect to Support Hampshire website contains lots of information around managing the current cost of living including money worry support. See the website for further details.
connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk
Connect 4 Communities is a website containing information on local projects. Their programme aims to support those most in need with significantly rising living costs, particularly families with children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy, food and water bills.
hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/childrenandfamilies/connectforcommunities
Hampshire County Council – Hitting The Cold Spots Provide help for people struggling to keep their homes warm through the colder months.
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Phone: 0800 804 8601
Hear from our students
If you have any questions regarding student support, please call 01256 306494.
