Welcome to Learner Services
The Learner Services team offers a range of services and support for both full time and
part time learners during your time at Filton College. We want to help you achieve your goals and
successfully complete your course of study.
Filton College recognises that learners are individuals so we aim to provide a person centred service designed to best meet your needs. The Learner Services Team have experience in supporting a diverse range of learners and work closely with full and part time learners, learners with disabilities and additional learning needs.
Where can you find us?
Filton Avenue Campus – Learner Services Office CG10
WISE Campus – Learner Services Office G32
Queens Road – Main reception 0117 9736259
Or alternatively our telephone number is 0117 9092297
We actively promote Equal Opportunities and work to raise awareness and diversity and build mutual respect within the college to ensure an inclusive learning environment.
Careers
Looking for helpful advice on careers and learning? Our qualified and experienced
Careers Advisers can offer free, impartial information, advice and guidance on courses, training,
careers, returning to education or work and childcare. If you are thinking about:
- Doing a course
- Changing your career
- Getting back into work
Or are unsure what to do next, you may find that speaking to one of our Careers Advisers can help you move forward and increase your options.
For further information please The Careers Team on 0117 9092225 or alternatively email:
Annie.wheeler@filton.ac.uk
Kate.Kitchen@filton.ac.uk
rosheen.hucker@filton.ac.uk
Counselling
The Counselling Team provide a confidential, professional service to our Learners. By
talking things over with someone who is uninvolved and non-judgemental learners will be able to
find their own decisions and discover different ways of looking at and coping with problems.
For further information please contact the College Counsellors on 0117 9092298 or email
Helen.watts@filton.ac.uk
wendy.martin@filton.ac.uk
Disability
Our aim is equality for learners with a disability. We take practical steps to assist and advise disabled learners, including those with Special Educational Needs. If you have a disability or learning difficulty, let us know before you enrol so that we can put support in place for you as soon as you start your course.
We regularly support disabilities such as Dyslexia, hearing impairment/deafness, visual impairment, learning difficulties, mobility needs, mental health needs, epilepsy and many more.
For further information please contact Suzanne Waloch, Disability Co-ordinator on 0117 9092307 or email: Suzanne.waloch@filton.ac.uk
Learner Support
Filton College recognises that many learners because of difficulties in learning including
dyslexia and/or missed educational opportunities, will need significant help in the form of
additional support in order to succeed on a course for which they are in every other way suited.
The Learning Support team offer one-to-one help in numeracy, literacy and science, to anyone who feels they may need extra support with their course.
For further information contact: Jacqui Andres on 0117 9092293 or email: Jacqueline.andres@filton.ac.uk
Top of pageMulti-Faith Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy is inter-denominational and exists to serve all members of the college – staff and learners – regardless of belief or background. The Chaplaincy provides opportunities to discover and deepen faith, and develop spirituality.
For further information contact: Paul Smith on 0117 9092278 or email paul.smith@filton.ac.uk
Welfare
The College Welfare Advisors can provide you with information, help and advice about such matters as:
- Welfare benefits
- Childcare
- Grants and loans
- Contraception and pregnancy
- Leaving home/homelessness
- Transport
Money may be an important factor as you consider your future education. If you or your family
are in receipt of income-based benefits or a low income, then funds may be available to help you
with course costs. If you have any questions about any personal issues please
feel free to contact a member of the Welfare Team on 0117 9092 382 or email:
alex.hodges@filton.ac.uk
Learner Support Fund
The Learner Support Fund is given to colleges by the Government to help learners over 19 who may experience financial hardship to complete their course successfully. Both funds are allocated annually and each application is assessed on an individual basis throughout the year.
To be eligible for the above funds, you must:
- be enrolled on a further education course (not leisure and higher education)
- have lived in the UK or the EEA for three years or more or have been granted refugee status
You are not eligible if:
- you are on a New Deal Scheme (except New Deal for Lone Parents)
- on a Work Based learning programme
The Childcare Fund
The Childcare Fund is part of the Learner Support Fund to learners who have children aged 15
or under (aged 16 or under for children with disabilities) in registered childcare, to complete
their course successfully.
If you are aged 19+ you may be entitled to up to 100% of your childcare costs depending on your financial circumstances.
Types of childcare eligible for funding are:
- registered childminders
- nursery
- crèche
- breakfast and after school clubs
- holiday clubs
Application forms are available throughout the year from Learner Services.
Care to Learn Scheme
This scheme is a new initiative created by the government. All students aged 16-20 will be
eligible to claim up to £5,000 per child per year for the cost of childcare.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be enrolled on a further education course
- Be living in England
- Be caring for your own child/children
To make an appointment to see a Welfare Advisor at Filton College, contact Student Services on 0117 9092227 or email tina.gay@filton.ac.uk
Top of pageCareer Development Loans (CDL)
A Career Development Loan is a deferred bank loan to help you pay for
vocational learning or education. You can borrow anything between £300 and
£8,000 to help you fund up to two years of learning plus, if relevant, up to one
year’s practical work experience where it forms part of the course.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) pays the interest on your loan while you’re learning and for up to one month afterwards. If you finish the course before the agreed date, the repayment holiday will end up to one month after your last day of training. You then repay the loan to the bank over an agreed period at a fixed rate of interest.
CDLs are available through three high street banks: Barclays, The Co-operative and The Royal Bank of Scotland. You do not need to be an existing account holder but the bank may require you to open an account with them.
For further information contact the CLD Information Line freephone on 0800 585 505 or visit the website www.lifelonglearning.dfes.gov.uk/cdl
Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
It’s never too late to learn new skills. With the ALG you could get up to
£30 per week while you’re studying, which could give you a real helping hand
towards travel, study materials or any other costs you might incur. To get ALG, you need to
be:
- Aged 19 or over
- Studying full time, so at least 12 hours a week, and attending college regularly
- Doing your first full level 2 qualification; or your first full level 3 qualification (includes BTEC, NVQ, GCSE and A Levels)
- Earning less that £19,513 if you are single or less than £30,810 if you are a couple
- Not receiving out of work benefits or Income Support.
For more information about eligibility visit www.direct.gov.uk/alg or call 0800 121 8989 or speak to Jan Szczelkun on 0117 9092262.
How much you get depends on your income. To qualify, you need to be aged 19 or over and your course needs to meet certain requirements.
For more information contact Jan Szczelkun 0117 9092262 in Learner Services or call 0800 121 8989 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/alg
If you have any questions or queries we are here to help so please don’t hesitate to ask!
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