Educational Support

These departments work closely together to support learners with their education programme and provide wraparound support in line with their Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

Image taken by Portland learner Joshua Hornblow and used with permission.

Information, Advice, Guidance and Transition (IAGT)

Portland’s IAGT team are here to support learners’ transition into college and their experience while they are at college. The team also help to plan next steps at the end of their educational programme and are accredited by the Matrix standard.

The IAGT team run a range of events and workshops to enable learners to access support and information to help them plan for their future. This includes careers advice with the Transitions Coordinator acting as the Careers Lead, overseeing careers support across college.

The Portland Council is co-ordinated by the IAGT Team. The Council includes representatives from across all college services, including learners. The group meet termly to discuss current issues and make positive changes for Portland.

The IAGT Team also facilitate all learners’ Person Centred EHCP reviews throughout their time at Portland.

Seven members of the IAGT team standing in a line and smiling at the camera

Careers Guidance Information

IAGT Team

Image of Georgia, IAGT Coordinator/Mental Health Lead

Image of Kate, IAGT Transition & Outcomes Coordinator

Image taken by Portland learner Joshua Hornblow and used with permission.

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

We take a proactive and positive approach to understanding and supporting the behaviours of learners.

Working within the Positive Behavioural Support framework, we assess learners to enable staff to understand and recognise individual behaviours of concern.

Learners have a Positive Behaviour Support Plan in place where needed. This allows the team to provide supportive environments and techniques to enhance each learner’s experience and opportunities at Portland.

Learning Support Assistants

Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) work with learners during their college day to help them excel in their studies.

Extensive training in the best ways to support inclusive learning is provided. This allows staff to be prepared at all times to support learners with complex behaviours.

We aim to ensure that the same LSA is timetabled to support a learner throughout every session.