The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is expected to have significant long-term impact on business – but it’s not just companies affected, it’s the people who work in them as well.
While employees find themselves adjusting to new ways of doing what they’ve always done and bosses juggle the demands of hybrid working patterns, there’s one generation of workers arguably affected more than any other. And they’re not even in the workplace yet.
Students have faced unprecedented disruption to their learning resulting from lockdowns, absence, self-isolation, and varied levels of access to digital devices/internet and the after-effects of lost learning could be felt across the business world for years to come. All these challenges have been amongst a range of associated personal circumstances. It is not just academic and vocational skills that have been impacted, but also the development of the study skills required to support student progress.
To respond to the needs of vulnerable students, and the wider ‘wraparound’ support needs of the general student body, Northampton College has created a dedicated new school,
placing learning support at the heart of the college.
The School of Academic & Vocational support will aim to bring together all learning support into one strategy, to better support and improve outcomes for students that have been disadvantaged by the loss of face-to-face teaching and learning, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disability.
Thomas Goodridge, Assistant Principal of the School of Academic & Vocational Support, said: “The school works with teaching and support staff to develop their skills and abilities to meet the diverse range of needs students present with.
“We have a dedicated CPD programme for staff to develop their confidence and skills in teaching students with conditions such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia, while our provision for wellbeing and mental health support continues to grow as a vital college-wide service for students.
“We are committed to making our student wellbeing service proactive in delivering information and strategies about promoting and maintaining positive wellbeing. It is vital that students feel that they can achieve in their studies, and that we help them to re-build their confidence in their own abilities.”
As part of its commitment to recognising and responding to the impact of COVID-19 on students, two sessions have been arranged for parents and carers of new applicants for September 2022, outlining how the College plans to support students to catch up on missed learning and develop confidence, self-esteem, and resilience as we recover from the pandemic.
The presentations, at Daventry on Tuesday, May 17 and at Booth Lane on Thursday, May 26, will provide an insight into future employment and the key skills required to thrive in the modern world.
Click here for more information about Northampton College’s School of Academic & Vocational Support and its forthcoming parent and carer events for new starters.
