Learning Mentors

Group Tutorials

The group tutorial programme will support you in developing personal, social & employability skills to enable you to succeed on your course and understand the options available for progression once you have completed your qualification. Throughout your group tutorial programme you will cover (as a minimum) Induction and Transition, Study Skills, Health Awareness, Staying Safe (Safeguarding, Prevent & Peer on Peer Abuse), Equality and Diversity, Employability Skills and Progression routes. Some of these will be delivered through cross College events, guest speakers and online content. Whilst 1:1 tutorials are taking place, you will be given work to complete during the session or be expected to use the time as a workshop to keep up to date with your work as well as update your work experience and enhancement hours on Proportal.

Group tutorials will support the development of self-confidence, self-awareness and employability skills. The tutorials will also help raise awareness on how you can keep yourself healthy and safe online and from gang and sexual exploitation, extremism as well as supporting you in making a contribution to the wider society and progressing into positive destinations. For students on T levels and transition study programmes, the Learning Mentor will also utilise the session to help you prepare for your work placements by focusing on employability, interview skills and resilience building.  Your Learning Mentor will ask for feedback on the tutorial programme to ensure that sessions are bespoke and tailored to meet the group’s needs.

1-1 Tutorials

Your Learning Mentor will meet with you for an initial 1-1 tutorial within the first 6 weeks of your programme of study to ensure you are on the correct course for you. Each student will then have a minimum of three further 1-1 tutorials each academic year.

Individual Tutorials provide you with the opportunity to meet with your Learning Mentor on a 1-1 basis to discuss your progress, set targets and develop your individual learning plan (ilp) together to ensure you reach your potential. Information from your 1-1 tutorial will be logged on your e-ILP on Moodle. In your individual tutorial you can expect to discuss:

• your goals, targets and progress (including progress in English and Maths, if applicable)
• attendance and punctuality
• assessment outcomes and achievement
• progress with enhancement and work experience
• any support needs and provision you require, including progression/next steps
• behaviour and academic performance issues
• anything else you would like to discuss

To make the most of your 1:1 tutorials it is important you are prepared.

Confidentiality

We understand that being able to have a confidential discussion with your Learning Mentor is important. We will only share information with others provided you have given us permission to do so. However, if your Learning Mentor is concerned that you or someone else is at risk of harm then they will have to act in line with our safeguarding policy and pass information on to a designated safeguarding member of staff to decide if any further action needs to be taken to ensure the safety of a young person or vulnerable adult.

REVIEWING PROGRESS

A key part of your 1:1 tutorial is reviewing your progress so far. Make notes along each of these points in advance of your tutorial to discuss with your Learning Mentor:

• What progress have you made since your last tutorial?
• Have you achieved your targets set in your last tutorial?
• How is your attendance and punctuality?
• How is your time management?
• How is your behaviour?
• What are you currently focusing on achieving in college?

Part of your 1-1 tutorial will involve setting targets to stretch/challenge yourself and ensure you succeed on your course. Areas you might want to consider setting targets around are:

Examples of possible targets:

• Maintain 90% attendance at group tutorials
• Take steps to improve written language skills by obtaining help from the Additional Support Team.
• Involve self in college activities to improve CV
• Spend x hours in Learning Resources Centre this term
• Improve oral skills by participating more in class
• Improve handwriting skills
• Improve numerical skills
• Co-operate with other students in group work
• Improve behaviour – no more cause for concerns this term
• Improve management of time
• Meet deadlines for completion of assignments
• Produce a CV
• Undertake UCAS research
• Work shadowing/work experience
• Discuss progression decisions with appropriate staff
• Participate in enrichment activities
• Join the Student Voice
• Achieve Functional Skills targets
• Discuss financial concerns with Student Services
• Agree steps to increase self-confidence/time management/study skills
• Take decisions about next steps at end of course and long-term career direction
• Arrange a careers interview

In order to ensure that the targets that are being set are SMART, work out the details!

The targets you set in tutorials must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) . Use the questions below to check if the targets you’re setting are SMART.

Specific State what you’ll do

Measurable Provide a way to evaluate

Achievable Within your scope and attainable

Realistic Be honest with yourself – can you realistically achieve it?

Time-Bound Define the time-frame during which you will achieve the goal

Things to ask yourself when setting targets:

• How will this be achieved?
• Have they got the resources?
• Are there any barriers that may prevent this from being achieved?
• Are there any other commitments that may impact on them achieving their targets?
• What can you do to support the student in achieving this?