Accessibility
Harrow Council welcomes learners with disabilities or learning difficulties and aims to provide equal educational opportunity for everyone.
This Statement provides information on the Adult & Community Learning provision secured by Harrow Council and gives details of the support available for learners with a disability.
Because much of the Adult & Community Learning provision in Harrow is delivered through a range of different organisations, the Statement gives general information that applies to all the work and contacts on more details that can be supplied by individual providers.
Adult & Community Learning provision
Harrow Council secures Adult & Community Learning through partnership arrangements with a range of providers, including Harrow & Stanmore Colleges and a number of voluntary and community groups.
Courses take place in a large number of venues and buildings, including schools, community centres, day centres, church halls, temples and mosques, in order to make sure that learning opportunities are available in local centres.
As such, physical access and the availability of support services do vary. However, Harrow Council is committed to improving access and support and has ongoing work to improve access to buildings, increase the availability of adaptive technologies and widen the additional support available.
Additional information on the support for learners with a disability and on the policies applicable for the major providers of Adult & Community Learning in Harrow can be obtained from the relevant organisation.
Definition of Disability
For the purposes of this Statement, disability is defined as: ‘A physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long- term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.’
Harrow Council recognises that many disabled students do not require any additional support. However, if you feel you meet the above criteria and want to find out about what support is available please discuss your needs with the organisation providing your course.
Learner support available
Harrow Council works in partnership with other providers, including Harrow College, Stanmore College, Harrow Association of Disabled People, Choices 4 All, MIND, and the Family Welfare Association to secure provision specifically established for students who have a learning difficulty and/or are disabled.
This provision includes:
- A programme of part-time courses and activities - like Art, Swimming, Music, Yoga, Basic Computing – provided in Community Centres, Day Centres and at Harrow College
For more information on the range of provision in this programme, please contact REACH Team, Adult & Community Learning on 020 8427 8039 or Harrow College, on 020 8909 6000
- A pre-vocational full-time course, using catering and hospitality as a means of teaching the skills needed to integrate successfully into a workforce, provided through the Choices 4 All project.
For more information on Choices 4 All, please contact: Marie Harrison, Choices 4 All, on 020 8424 0848
- A programme of basic computing skills for the physically disabled and the visually impaired run through REACH Team Adult & Community Learning. Centres used have a range of adaptive equipment.
For more information on the courses provided through REACH, please contact: REACH Team, Adult & Community Learning on 020 8427 8039
- Access to a range of discrete courses for mental health service users or ex-users, including Electric Piano Keyboard, English, Music Technology, Nail Art & Manicure, is provided by the Stepping Stones programme run under MIND in Harrow. Interpreting and translating support is also available for students on the courses.
For more information on the courses for mental health service users provided through the Stepping Stones programme, please contact: Gillian Samuel, Stepping Stones Co-ordinator, on 020 8515 7878
- Access to a range of drop-in learning activities – including Computing, Pottery, Photography, Massage and Poetry - and resources for mental health service users is provided by the Family Welfare Association at Marlborough Hill Resource Centre, 76 Marlborough Hill, Harrow
For more information on courses and activities for mental health service users provided through the Family Welfare Association at Marlborough Hill Resource Centre, please contact: 020 8427 1799
Access to Adult Learning
These are general comments about additional support available. Please contact the relevant provider for particular support available for any course.
What happens when you apply to join a course?
For most courses you will be asked to complete an enrolment form, on which you are encouraged to provide information about your disability. Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be passed on to a third party without your prior consent.
Many providers of courses will have a named person(s) with whom you can discuss your needs and the nature of the support you may need. Please check with individual providers for this information.
Learning support
The level of support available does vary between venues and courses. Additional support may be provided through:
- Specialist support – (interpreter, communicator, note taker etc)
- Adaptation of materials – (large print photocopies, taping of parts of textbooks etc)
- Specialist equipment – (loop systems, specialist software, adaptive computer equipment etc). See the documents below for a list of adaptive equipment/software available from Harrow Council.
- One-to-one or small group support
- Additional help when taking an examination – (extra time, a reader, access to a computer or other specialist equipment etc)
Physical access to buildings
Adult & Community Learning courses take place in a variety of buildings around the borough, including locations at the heart of local communities. You can find out more information about the accessibility of each venue by consulting our list of learning providers.
Financial support
A reduced fee for courses provided through Harrow Council’s Adult & Community Learning programmes is available for people in receipt of certain benefits and allowances. Please check with individual providers for availability of concessionary fees.
Some providers also may provide financial help through an Access or Support Fund. Please check with individual providers for this.
Linked files
Hardware for disabled learners
Software for disabled learners
Learning Opportunities for People With Learning Disabilities
