Supporting learners’ needs

Signposting a learner for support may be to someone within your organisation or external to your organisation. Again, the type of organisation you work for will determine how you access support and how you signpost. E.g., a larger college may have a number of support options such as learning support department, literacy or numeracy support, whereas a volunteer at a community centre is likely to need to source or signpost to external or community based support.

Learners’ needs fall into 3 main areas.

  • Gain new skills
  • Develop/refresh skills
  • Change/enhance career
  • Engagement with others
  • Specific learning difficulties
  • Mobility difficulties
  • Physical impairment
  • Mental health support
  • Financial support
  • Transportation
  • Childcare
  • Housing

We have already looked at some of the ways you can support learning needs, we will now turn our attention to addressing some other needs you (or another member of staff) may have identified: accessibility needs and personal needs.

It is important to know the other departments or professionals that work within education as there can be a tendency to become too involved with your learner which can blur the boundaries of your already mixed role. This is not helpful to you, as you will be taking on more that you should adding to your workload, or the learner, who could become dependent on your support. Click on the button below to view the case study.

Solina taught on a project for unemployed people. The project lasted 3 months and included a variety of tasks to help build motivation and employment skills.   

One young participant, Helen, was very friendly, and wanted to make a change in her life after spending some time in prison, but was having difficulties with her accommodation. She stayed in a small flat with little furniture and an old mattress on the floor to sleep on. She found it difficult to do the basics such as make hot food. On describing her situation, Solina got a sense of how difficult things were for her to just get basic needs met. 

Solina, had an old microwave that was stored in her attic, so she brought in for Helen. Helen was very grateful at Solina’s generosity and looked forward to being able to make a hot meal for herself.

In the case study above, Solina just wanted to help, meet a basic need such – a hot meal. When basic needs are met, this can help people engage in learning more effectively. However, was Solina right to help Helen in this way?

  • What do you think some of the ramifications of helping Helen were for both Solina and Helen?
  • Have you or a colleague supported someone in this way or been tempted to?

Add the answers to your notes.

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