Support for Students

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 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 work placements.

On-site every day during term time, our college nurse is fully qualified and on hand to help if you are feeling under the weather.
If you have a longer term health condition, she will work with you and your family to ensure we have up to date information and care pans and we can support you to achieve 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.

BCoT’s Safeguarding Policy and guidance applies to all of our students and in particular students aged 18 years or under as well as 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).

BCoT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers and students to share this commitment. For more information about our safeguarding policy please download our safeguarding policy statement.

We offer a number of financial schemes to help our students. Please visit our Fees and Finance section for further information about available loans and bursaries.

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.

BCoT has a dedicated learning support team that are able to support students with a variety of additional needs.

BCoT is committed to providing the highest standards of support to learners who have a disability or learning difficulty.

It is important to 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 have not got 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 supports needs with someone, please contact our Transition Manager, Helen Key on 01256 306289 or helen.key@bcot.ac.uk

BCoT offers support to students with more complex needs and 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. 

To apply for financial and travel support, please complete our Financial and Travel Support Bursary Application form and post it to the following address:

Student Welfare
Basingstoke College of Technology
Worting Road
Basingstoke
RG21 8TN

If you wish to cycle to College, there is plenty of space for you to park your bike. Whilst there is car parking available at College, this is strictly limited to students living outside of the Basingstoke area. If you live in Basingstoke, parking is only available to full time students aged 19 or over. Please note car parking charges apply.

A park and ride service is available from the Leisure Park at a discounted rate for BCoT students.

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.

BCoT will put in place access arrangements for students in exams where students have been assessed as needing these. These arrangements may include a reader, scribe, extra time, use of word processor, small room or rest breaks.

If a student 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 BCoT has to re-submit all applications following an interview and reassessment.

Students 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 BCoT has no control over these so assessments need to be completed within the first term at college.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Rachel Auge De Rancourt on 01256 306494 or Rachel.augederancourt@bcot.ac.uk

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.

In partnership with DisabledGo, you can find accessibility information about the Student Support hub at BCoT here.