Colchester Institute has a wide range of support services. These are available to help you with the practicalities of life as a student, as well as planning for your future career.
Whether you are still at school, have been working for a number of years or are returning to your studies after a long break, going to college is exciting. However, it can also be confusing and may mean changes to your lifestyle. Colchester Institute’s Student Support Services are designed to help you make the most of your time here.
Our Additional Learning Support team can support in a variety of ways. The most important thing is that we know about your learning needs at an early stage so we can ensure the necessary support is in place for you.
We pride ourselves on the support provided to students with SEND needs. We have a dedicated team on hand to support you throughout your time with us. If you have a learning difficulty and / or disability, we encourage you to come and see us as soon as you are thinking of applying for a course. We ask that you declare your need for support on your application form by ticking the appropriate box under the additional needs section.
If you’re a parent or carer supporting a young person with their next steps, you may find the Essex Opportunities Post-16 Parents’ and Carers’ Guide useful for exploring options and available support:
Our Additional Learning Support team can support in a variety of ways. The most important thing is that we know about your learning needs at an early stage, so we can ensure the necessary support is in place for when you attend an interview and subsequently before you start your programme with us.
We have a range of specialist staff including learning support practitioners (LSPs) who can support students with literacy and numeracy and with study skills. Types of support we can offer include:
- Classroom-based learning support
- Support for Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)
- Exam concessions and Access Arrangements
- Note takers and specialist teaching for deaf learners
- A hearing loop facility
- Communication support workers
- Specialist equipment
If you require Exam Access Arrangements these must be declared / requested within the first 6 weeks of a student’s programme of study. Please click here for more information:
We ask that you declare your need for support on your application form by ticking the appropriate box under the additional needs section. If you wish to discuss your needs at any point during the application process or during your course, please contact our Additional Learning Support Team by emailing als@colchester.ac.uk.
Deaf Access Team
Colchester Institute is committed to supporting deaf students so they can access the full curriculum.
We have a team of professionals to ensure students achieve their full potential. The Deaf Access Team can support a range of deaf students to suit individual requirements.
You can arrange a meeting with the Learning Support Team and tell us what support you require and ask questions.
There are times in everyone’s life when things are difficult. It can sometimes help to talk to someone outside your family and friends who won’t judge you.
We offer a professional counselling service for our students. The service is friendly and confidential and appointments can be made via Student Services.
The Student Services Student Counselling Service is currently open to students studying at Colchester and Braintree sites.
University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute also provides separate counselling service to members of the public, which provides access to counselling in Colchester.
Everyone has the right to live free from bullying, harassment and discrimination. If you are an enrolled student at Colchester Institute and are concerned about bullying, harassment and or discrimination you are not alone. The college are here to support you. We understand that it might be hard to take the first step and ask for help but if you feel you can reach out we have a team of wellbeing and safeguarding advisors here to support you.
External Support
LGBTQ+ support
External Support
Emergency and crisis support
If you require emergency or crisis support please phone the emergency services on 999.
Good careers advice can make a positive difference to a student’s aspirations and motivation whilst at college. It can be instrumental in increasing their self-confidence and enable them to discover opportunities they never would have considered.
Based at our Colchester Campus, Colchester Institute’s team of careers advisers provide information, advice and guidance to enable their students to make informed decisions about their future and help find the best job or career possible for them. Our advisers have a wealth of experience and hold Level 7 guidance qualifications.
If you are still at school we recommend that you contact your school careers adviser for help about your future pathway.
Throughout your enrolment as a student at Colchester Institute you may require support with your wellbeing and mental health.
The college has a dedicated team to support you offering information, signposting and support. The team has 2 qualified counsellors, who are able to offer up to 6 free 50-minute counselling sessions to enrolled learners (subject to assessment appointment and waiting times). In addition to the College Counsellors there are a team of Wellbeing and Safeguarding Officers whose role it is to support you and work with you to keep you safe.
The Colchester Campus hosts team members from an NHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) who are able to work with students age 16-18 on low level emotional wellbeing and mental health concerns. They use self guided CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to support individuals and offer cross campus workshops to classes of students on Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health topics.
If you are an enrolled student age 16-18 and would like to find out more about the MHST service at Colchester Institute please email sswellbeing@colchester.ac.uk, pop and see the team or call 01206 712354
For students over 18 years and members of the public aged 18 years plus the College has a Counselling Service which is delivered by student trainee counsellors. More information can be found here: CICs
We know that there are times when you may feel overwhelmed so we have included some useful information in case you might need some extra support out of hours when the College safeguarding and welfare teams are unavailable.
Staying safe online
Colchester Institute want all students regardless of programme of study to feel safe and be safe online. There is a lot that you can do to keep yourself safe and below are links to specialist advice and support relating to online safety.
External Support
- CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command
- Internet Watch Foundation
- NSPCC
- Report Remove – childline
- Kidsonlineworld
- Police advice on Online Safety
- Mencap – Online Safety
- Age UK – Online Safety
If you have concerns that you are not safe online or something has happened online, and you need support please speak to your tutor, development coach or progress and destination tutor. Alternatively, all students can access the wellbeing and safeguarding team by emailing sswellbeing@colchester.ac.uk, visiting the team on campus or phoning 01206 712354.
Colchester Institute have dedicated team members that work alongside the curriculum teams to support Children in Care, Care Leavers and or Previously Looked After Children. Support is individualised and may look very different for each learner. Types of support available:
- Someone to listen
- A safe space
- Working with the Curriculum Teams to support you
- Attending meetings with you
- Supporting you to share concerns/worries with the curriculum team
- Co-ordinating and holding your PEP (Personal Education Plan) meeting, for those under 18 years.
- Liaising with and collaborating with your carers, placement provider, social workers and the virtual school
- Advice and information on College support and how to access the support including: Careers, Bursary, Travel, Additional Learning support, counselling
- Referrals and signposting to support outside of the college that you might need.
If you are a Child in Care, Care Leaver or a Previously Looked after Child and you are not already receiving support from the College please contact sswellbeing@colchester.ac.uk , pop and visit the team or call 01206 712293
External Support
- Essex County Council – Local Authority
- Your Own Place
- Essex Youth Service Colchester Youth Enquiry Service
Young Carers are children and young people who provide regular and ongoing care to another person who is physically or mentally ill, diagnosed disability or misuse substances. Many young people do not see themselves as carers and may not realise there is support available. Colchester Institute have dedicated team members that work alongside the curriculum teams to support Young Carers. Support is individualised and may look very different for each learner. Types of support available:
- Someone to listen
- A safe space
- Working with the Curriculum Teams to support you
- Attending meetings with you
- Supporting you to share concerns/worries with the curriculum team
- Liaising with and collaborating with your carers and any external support you may have
- Advice and information on College support and how to access the support including: Careers, Bursary, Travel, Additional Learning support, counselling
- Referrals and signposting to support outside of the college that you might need.
If you are a Young Carer and you are not already receiving support from the College please contact sswellbeing@colchester.ac.uk, pop and visit the team or call 01206 712354
