"Attending college will be different than what I am used to. This is because of the COVID-19 virus. To stay safe, we must stay 2 metres apart from each other. This will reduce the risk of the virus spreading. We must also wash our hands often, for at least 20 seconds, and especially after using the toilet or before we eat.

Over the summer I was given a timeline of what I needed to do and when. I was given information about my courses and who my tutors will be. I was given a contact phone number of an adult who will be my key-person. This person will answer questions or talk about any worries I have about college.

Before starting at college, I was offered a tour with a member of staff to show me my classroom and other areas.

Some things may look different to before. There will be a one-way system in place. The reception will have a Perspex screen with the staff behind it. Some of the staff and students may be wearing masks - this does not mean that they are ill, but it is just for protection.

All these changes may make me feel uncomfortable at first. But this feeling will go away. It will feel good to be back in a routine."

For those new students with EHCPs, and other complex issues, such as medical needs, in addition to the support provided at the universal level, we will:

• Contact you by phone and/or email to discuss your needs in more details, and work with you to complete an information sheet informing your new curriculum team, plus any risk assessments or care plans, as needed.
• Liaise with our site teams regarding any adjustments or allowances that you might need (e.g. a lift pass).
• Be available to liaise with any external support teams around you to help with their understanding of our provision or planning of their support.

For those students with the most complex needs, in addition to the support provided at the targeted level, we will:

• Arrange, where possible, for bespoke visits and assessments to take place to inform your programme on site.
• Our in-house therapists will contact external health and therapy services to aid the review of information and therapy programmes.
• Join our virtual Summer School and receive work via email to keep engaged and get prepared for the start of college.
• Take a video tour of our learning spaces, readily available online to help our young people transition from a distance and to be accessed as often as needed.
• Our course leaders will contact previous providers to ensure we have detailed student profiles and bespoke care information in order to provide the best classroom and personal support.
• Our SEN Entry 1 team will create individualised transition plans and strategies for our learners that would benefit from extra time or an adapted timetable to ease back into college life.
• Get to know the SEN Entry 1 team by accessing virtual meet and greets as well as logging onto your own Youtube Channel which has been created by the staff team.
• Take a video tour of our learning spaces, readily available online to help our young people transition from a distance and to be accessed as often as needed.

If you require more information about our offer to young people with SEND, then please read our local offer here.