Support at Novus
Novus provides a range of specialist support services designed to ensure that everyone enjoys an equal opportunity to benefit from education, training and employment.
Supporting learners with additional support needs
There are more than 1.3 million people in the UK with a learning disability.
In prisons the number of people with learning difficulties and disabilities is significantly higher than the general population.
In “Unlocking Potential: A Review of Prison Education”, Sally Coates reported in 2016 that 32% of new prisoners were recorded or self-reported as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
At Novus, our mission is to empower learners facing these challenges to engage and enjoy learning in custody, preparing them to continue their progress in the community upon release.
Our support services
We offer various services to support learners, including:
Support and guidance: We provide learners with guidance to help them navigate their learning journey.
Supportive learning programmes: Our programmes are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all.
Accessible learning environments: We ensure that our learning spaces are suitable for those with diverse needs.
Adapted curriculum materials: We create educational materials that are easy to understand and tailored to each learner's needs.
Training and support for staff
Our commitment to supporting neurodiverse individuals extends to our colleagues.
We actively train and support our colleagues to improve the experience for all who are neurodiverse in our establishments.
Through our partnership with the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), we’ve co-developed a training programme to equip a core Novus team with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver broader training to all tutors across our organisation.
This ensures that our staff are well-prepared to support and meet the needs of all learners.
Skilled and experienced teams
Our team includes skilled and experienced Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo), teachers, tutors, trainers, and support colleagues.
They work closely with learners to identify the best strategies, aids, and adaptations to support their learning progression. We want everyone to grow and build positive futures with Novus.
Support after release
Once prison leavers are ready for the next step, we connect them with partner employers who are seeking skilled candidates that are ready and excited to begin their new career path.
Our flexible recruitment service is designed to match employers with the right people, and we offer this service at no cost to employers.
By providing these support services, we aim to create a positive learning environment for everyone at Novus, helping individuals in custody and beyond to achieve their educational and employment goals.
Business paperwork is no longer a challenge for Adrian
For the first 60 years of his life, ‘Adrian’ did not realise he was dyslexic. It wasn’t until his assessment with the Novus team in the Education department at HMP Doncaster that he came to understand why reading and writing had proved so problematic throughout his life.
After leaving school without any qualifications at the age of 15, Adrian went on to become a self-employed carpet fitter. He was never out of work before going into custody, but had to employ staff to do his paperwork.
