Distance Learning Learner Information Handbook

This handbook contains important information that you may need to refer to during your course
Please read through all the information. Any queries please contact us by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Welcome to Shrewsbury Colleges Group and your Distance Learning course.

Thank you for your interest in completing a Distance Learning course.

We have now requested you contact us to arrange your Induction. The purpose of your induction is to introduce you to your chosen course and provide you with advice and guidance to establish that this is a suitable mode of study for you. 

After you have received your induction we will request you complete an Initial Assessment exercise to see if you are suited to this method of study and feel comfortable studying at Level 2. The link will be sent out by email for you to complete and return your answers.

Individual needs

Shrewsbury Colleges Group is proactive in encouraging learners to disclose their additional learning needs in the enrolment process, so that we may work with you to provide support if you have made a declaration. To accommodate individual learners’ needs we can for instance:

• Inform learners about the iPad Apps for learners with Dyslexia/Reading and Writing difficulties, e.g. My Study Bar (collection of free software) via www.eduapps.org – Xmind – mind mapping and planning, SSOverlay – screen tint application, Orato – text reader, Hott Notes – sticky notes for targets, Balabolka – Text Speech
• Produce accessible electronic versions of all course materials in large print/different colours, according to guidelines provided by the RNIB/dyslexia association

Support and Guidance whilst studying

You will be assigned an experienced assessor, who will be responsible for marking your assessments and providing you with assistance should you need it. They will send out a welcome email to introduce themselves and advise you how you contact them. The preferred method of contact is via email, although telephone calls may be available by prior arrangement. If you have a subject related question, please approach your assessor in the first instance. For any administrative or technical enquiries please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please do make use of the study notes which accompany the course, as they are an interpretation of the learning outcomes for you to successfully complete your chosen course.

What can I expect from the course, the tutors and the Distance Learning Team?

You can expect a commitment from everyone you encounter at Shrewsbury Colleges Group when completing your programme.

Your tutor will:

• Provide you with professional support.
• Carry out an up-to-date and professional standard of assessment and provide robust written feedback about your work.
• Give additional support with your learning/assessment should you require it.

The Distance Learning Team will:

• Deal with general enquiries.
• Make changes to your personal record if you change your address, name or your contact details
• Agree new submission dates should you struggle to get work in (provided that an extension is appropriate).
• Process your assessments and get your feedback to you.

What does Shrewsbury Colleges Group expect from me?

Shrewsbury Colleges Group expects a level of learner commitment from you while you complete your programme. As a learner, you have a responsibility to:

• Manage your learning process.
• Meet deadlines for handing in your work and only submit complete Modules/Assessments.
• Please only submit your work in acceptable formats i.e., Word or .PDF and complete assessments only as incomplete or partial assessments will not be accepted.
• Contact the Distance Learning Team to inform them of any changes in your circumstances (e.g., change of name through marriage or re-marriage, change of address, change of contact number or email address).

What should I do if I am unable to study for any length of time?

Please let the Distance Learning Team know about any long periods of absence that may affect your studies, such as holidays or unforeseen circumstances.

Undertaking your Distance Learning course

Submission of Assessments

• Please read all your learning materials carefully (including the Learner Study Notes) before starting any activities or assessments.
• Read all the questions carefully. Be clear about the wording and the question being asked. Please refer to the verb descriptions found in your study notes for guidance, to help you answer the questions correctly.
• You will have been advised of your assessment(s) submission deadline, in your individual learning plan, which is contained within your learning pack or on e-Assessor. It is important you submit your work by the deadline(s) given. Extensions may be possible for exceptional cases or those experiencing extenuating circumstances.
• Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for individual guidance. If your tutor requests a resubmission of part of your work, you will be contacted directly and allowed seven days to complete it.
• If you are submitting a paper-based assessment please ensure an entire module or assessment is completed prior to being submitted for marking. Single units are not acceptable for submission to your assessor.
• Including additional pages is acceptable within your paper assessment but please clearly label with your name, date, signature and course title, stating clearly which question it is referring to. Please use only A4 paper, as it needs to be scanned over to your Assessor. Do not use glue for inserts, or staple pages together.
• When sending by post, please make sure that the content is identifiable as belonging to you and the correct postage is paid. Please include your name and contact details completing the learner declaration on the front pages of your assessment. Please remember to sign and date it.
• Please make a copy of all your paper-based work so that there is a back-up version in the unlikely event of your work going missing in the post.
• You may submit hand-written assessments by scanning the complete document and not individual pages, by emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. but please ensure that you have retained a copy and that the version you send is either in Word or .PDF, as JPG and photos via a smartphone are not acceptable.

If you are submitting via the e-Assessor platform

At the start of your course, you will be issued with an e-Assessor learner user guide, along with a login and password. Please access e-Assessor and change the password on receipt of our email. 

Feedback

Your tutor will mark your assessments and then provide you with feedback.

All feedback will be sent to you via email or via e-Assessor . You are advised to read your feedback and complete any resubmissions in a timely manner. You are allowed as many resubmissions as required for you to pass the assessment.

Plagiarism

All the work you submit must be in your own words. Do not copy from another person, or copy text from your learning materials or any website. If your assessor suspects it is not your own work, you will be contacted and asked to resubmit your work.

Malpractice & Maladministration

Please familiarise yourself with the Shrewsbury Colleges Group Malpractice and Maladministration Policy when completing your course.

Completion of the course

Completion of your course is upon the successful completion of all your assessments.

Your assessments may be subject to Internal Quality Assurance, which is a process whereby the standard of your tutor’s work is sampled. Your work may also be sampled by the awarding organisation you will be registered with, this is known as External Quality Assurance. Once your work has been through the internal and external quality assurance process, the distance learning team will apply for your certificate from the exams department. If your work is selected for internal quality assurance sampling, a short delay may occur in the issuing of your certificate.

In their final feedback to you, your assessor may provide you with information, advice and guidance about other courses which may be of interest to you. You will also be emailed a link to complete a short survey regarding your experience of studying your course with Shrewsbury College. Completion of this is voluntary but we would welcome your views as we are always looking at ways to improve our offer.

Withdrawal from your course

Withdrawal from your course will incur the £100 default fee you agreed to at enrolment. Reasons for being withdrawn from a distance learning course will include; your decision not to continue, you have not submitted work in a timely manner and have missed your course deadlines, and you have not communicated with us when we have contacted you regarding non-submission of course work.

The college will issue you with an Invoice for £100. This can be paid in instalments by prior arrangement with the Finance team. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for advice and guidance if considering withdrawing.

Complaints procedure

Most complaints can be rectified by a telephone call to the Distance Learning Team. In the event that an issue isn’t resolved, please contact the Group Vice Principal - Quality, Apprenticeships & Information, Mark Brown by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone on 01743 342301. You will be required to provide grounds for your complaint in writing. Our Complaints Policy is available here.

Appeals

Should you disagree with any aspect of your assessor's feedback or with any comments from Internal Quality Assurance you have the right to appeal. Contact Caroline Thornton, Team Leader, Learning Resource Centres by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone on 01743 342356. Our Student Academic Appeals Policy is available here.

Data Protection

Shrewsbury College will request personal information to process your enrolment, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Further information can be accessed via our policies section.

Safeguarding and Prevent Duty

At Shrewsbury Colleges Group we have a policy to guide the safeguarding of both children and vulnerable adults. This approach safeguards and promotes the welfare of children (those under 18) and vulnerable adults (people over 18 who may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation).

Please ensure you have read Shrewsbury Colleges Group safeguarding information which can be found here. You will be asked to confirm this in the induction checklist, which is part of the enrolment process.

Safeguarding Contacts

You can contact the Safeguarding Practitioner/Team by telephone 01743 342342 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Enjoy your studies and please don’t forget that the Distance Learning Team is here to support you.

Contact Details

General Enquiries regarding your course:

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Telephone: 01743 342355 / 01743 342356 / 01743 342650

Mailbox for emailed assignments:

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Distance Learning Office Opening Times: