Great Yarmouth College has introduced a structured Induction Programme that leads to an NOCN Skills Towards Enabling Progression (Step-UP) Level 1 Award for all college students completing the course. The college is one of a very few to offer such a standardised and comprehensive introduction to settling in new students.
Safeguarding
The college puts learners first - “at the heart of all it does”. They all need a safe environment in which to study; they need to know where to go with problems; who can help them with queries. Making new friends, finding the way around and not knowing where to go for help and guidance can make the transition from school to college too difficult for some students.
The first four to six weeks are the danger weeks where learners can get demoralised and leave college. This initiative has boosted morale in the first few weeks with students exploring the college finding out who the staff are.
Peter Thompson, Head of Centre for Individualised Learning at the college said: “Starting a new life at a large college campus can be intimidating, baffling and confusing. We are recognising this by helping learners to make new friends, gel together with ice breaking activities, arm them with all the information they need to know and break down any barriers so they can enjoy their time here from the beginning. We saw the Induction to College unit from Step-UP as a very good way to help students fit in quickly across the whole college.”
He added “It has been hugely successful. It is part of the Learners First initiative where learners are at the heart of everything we do. I originally thought of it when I was planning the Foundation Learning Curriculum across the college and the Step-UP award addresses issues of safeguarding and child protection; it has been a real success.”
Approximately 1200 learners go through the induction process at the beginning of the academic year.
Structure
All students from entry to degree level are eased into their new environment by a series of tours, talks, ice-breaking workshops and information and guidance activities.
Each student is given a workbook to complete and tutors book their classes in for workshops on the hour. Topics covered include safeguarding, equality and diversity, welfare support, enrichment, Personal and Social Development (PSD), careers advice and IAG, health and safety, orientation, roles and responsibilities - of students as well as staff.
Ice breaker activities are also included along with a fire drill and sessions where general dangers around the college are identified through photo mock ups of dangers in the kitchen and the classroom.
Induction workshops are standardised across all levels and types of learner. Further Education, Higher Education and part time students go through the same process. The safeguarding of students is the justification for all learners - at Level 2 or Level 3 as well as Entry 3 and Level 1 - to complete the unit.
Achievement
Everyone who successfully completes the induction programme receives the NOCN Step-UP Award at Entry 3 or Level 1. To gain this in their first few weeks at the college is a real achievement. For some learners this might be the first certificate they have ever received.
Foundation Learning students, approximately half of the total, will build on this initial achievement towards the Step-UP Certificate. This will arm them with additional soft skills and work skills to equip them for employment.
Feedback from staff and students
The 470 full and part-time staff have welcomed the new initiative and the standardised cross college approach and all students have really enjoyed it. It has been a very positive and successful experience for staff and students alike. Comments from students include:
- The induction to college really helped me make new friends quickly as we had to do lots of work together
- I really liked finding out about all the things College has to offer
- I think my college induction this was great as it made me feel safe and not too nervous
- College Induction was good because it’s good to be told all the rules and regulations and to be treated like an adult
The summary of the College Induction Survey shows that students have taken it on board in a positive way making them ready to face a challenging year of learning. Staff see the apprehension during transition from school to college often felt by learners is not as obvious this year: the process of making new friends has been accelerated; college seems a much friendlier place.