Your dedicated Support Coordinators at The Learning Support Centre are Kirsty Smith, Abbi Weston and Laura Trueman. If you need any support or advice on a DSA application, you can speak to one of them before you apply by email at info@learningsupportcentre.com or calling 0116 254 8881.
If you are receiving support from us, but have not yet had your DSA needs assessment, please download our interim support guide to find out the next steps you need to take.
The foundation for mentoring is the relationship between the mentor and mentee. Over time, a supportive and respectful relationship of trust is developed allowing the mentee to explore issues and work on overcoming barriers in a safe environment. The mentor supports the mentee in problem-solving, decision making and testing out new strategies. The mentoring sessions offer opportunities for reflection and constructive feedback to enhance the personal development of the mentee.
Mentors will see you for a regular meeting agreed in advance to support you in overcoming any barriers that are affecting your studies. This could range from helping to organise time, starting assignments, discussing problems or help with exam preparation. Your mentor will support you to enjoy your time at school, college or university and make the most of the opportunities available.
“The support I received from the Learning Support Centre (LSC) was mentoring and note taking. I accessed these services through my disability adviser at De Montfort University in my final year for additional support. The mentoring worked by meeting with my mentor twice a week (I received two hours per week), and the note taking worked by a member of LSC sitting in my lectures. I chose to sit away from my note taker so that I could sit with my friends. Both services helped me in my final year by taking away those extra stresses of making notes when I was anxious, and my mentor listened a lot to my worries. The skills I learnt were better note taking in a working environment. I managed to build my confidence with the help of my mentor, better management skills (study/time) and self-believe. Now that I’ve graduated, all these skills I use in my new job for the NHS. I would highly recommend both of these services from the Learning Support Centre. Without these services in my final year, I’m unsure I would have achieved as much as I did in my last 9 months at De Montfort University.”
Zoe (BSc ICT (Hons), De Montfort University)
Your support is tailored to your individual learning styles and needs. It is delivered on a one-to-one basis to develop core study skills and competencies, in order to support you with independent skills and strategies for life.
We can help you develop your academic skills and confidence in areas such as:
Our team will also keep in touch to ensure that you are happy with the support you are receiving.
A Scribe is a person who writes or types for a candidate who is either unable to write or is significantly restricted in their ability to write due to a disability.
A Reader is a person who reads written text aloud either in real-time or on an audio recording for a candidate who is unable to read or significantly restricted in their ability to read due to a disability.
Due to the formal nature of examinations, the duties of a scribe or reader are extremely specific.
The primary duties of a Scribe are to:
If your needs assessment report recommends that you may need a Scribe and/or Reader in exams, and you would like to request this, you must apply formally, following the University procedure. You will find details on how to do this on the Exams page of your institution’s website.
The primary duties of a Reader are to:
What should be taken into the exam?
You must take all of the items that you would take to the exam if you were not using a Scribe and/or Reader. A Scribe and/or Reader will not know exactly what is expected for your subject, for example, if the use of a calculator is allowed. However, this information will be provided by the examinations team on the day of the exam.
How many people will be in the exam room?
There will be two people in the room – the candidate, i.e. the student and the allocated Scribe and/or Reader. A Scribe and/or Reader may also act as the invigilator and ensure that the University regulations are observed. Alternatively, there may be an invigilator from your institution also present in the room.
Access to Work is a Government-funded scheme to help pay towards Assistive Technology and support in the workplace. More information about Access to Work can be found here.
Some employers choose to fund equipment and support themselves rather than using the Access to Work scheme. If you feel that you need support to do your job to the best of your ability, it is a good idea to have a confidential meeting with your line manager or someone in the People / HR department to find out what your options are.
You are also welcome to contact us for advice on the best way to approach your employer about workplace support.
