The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance

Funding for an SpLD assessment

Can a student be referred for a Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) support with a Specialist teacher through the University?

Free screening for Dyslexia / Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) and support with accessing a full diagnostic assessment for SpLD (e.g. dyslexia)

Disability Adviser available

Are there specialist staff available to talk to within the service?  Is there a disability officer or a disability adviser for students to talk to?

Students can request a one-to-one session with a Disability Advisor to discuss their needs and issues, along with potential solutions. Disability Advisers also help current ICMP students at any point in their studies (from first to final year): arranging access to DSA, implementing support plans and arrangements, and liaising with staff and teams inside and outside ICMP in order to ensure support is working effectively.

Support from academic staff

Is advice and support available from academic staff within the faculties of the University? How do students access this advice and support?

The Disability Advisor facilitates institutional ‘reasonable adjustments’ for students (e.g. special arrangements for exams and other on-course support arrangements), which are shared with the relevant programme leader and academic team. Students can request additional guidance from tutors, and academic teams offer additional (timetabled) academic support sessions for assessments.

Staff continuity and understanding individual needs

Are the specialist disability staff in the team able to offer a personalised, bespoke response to a student’s needs? Where possible, is continuity provided for the student in meeting the same Disability Adviser and/or mentor so the student can get to know them over time?

The Disability Advisers each work with a caseload of specific courses; they regularly meet programme leaders and offer ongoing support to all disabled students on their allocated courses. This allows students to work with one consistent, named Disability Adviser and to access personalised, bespoke support. For students whose primary diagnosis is mental health related, they may also work on an ongoing and consistent basis with a named Mental Health Adviser who can collaborate with the Disability Advisers if necessary.

One to one mentoring support

Are there any additional services available such as mentoring, counselling services or a buddy scheme to help a new student to settle in if needed?

Students may have access to additional support options, depending on their individual support requirements. Examples of additional support which can be offered to ICMP students, free of charge, include: 1-1 sessions (usually up to 6 sessions) with a professional counsellor, NLP coach or Alexander Technique practitioner. Group sessions are also offered with the NLP coach, focussed on motivation, positive thinking and managing time / workloads.

One to one / group study skills

Does the institution provide support with arranging One to one/Group study skills sessions?

We are able to offer both 1-1 and group study-skills support sessions. These may be drop-in coursework support sessions (same days every week); bookable group study skills support sessions, or bookable 1-1 study skills sessions (usually up to 6 sessions). We can also offer group or 1-1 support sessions focused on time-management and organisation.