Barnsley Adult Skills and Community Learning

How to enrol

If you're interested in learning with us, contact us online or call 01226 775270. Our team will talk to you about what your goals are, what support you might need and what classes could be right for you.

Before you start a course, you'll also be invited to take part in a taster session or welcome class.

Paying for a course

Some of our courses do have a fee, but if you're on a low income, unemployed or on means-tested benefits you probably won't have to pay or could at least get a discount.

If you do have to pay, you might be able to pay in instalments, please ask us when you enrol.

If you're interested in learning or developing your skills and are put off because you might have to pay, please get in touch. Our advisors can explain everything to you and if learning with us isn't the right choice for you, we can put you in touch with other services.

How to pay

If you have to pay a fee, you'll receive an invoice in the post once you've enrolled.

You can pay your fees online by debit or credit card, or over the phone by calling the automated payment line on 01226 775445.

The invoice will contain the reference number that you'll need to quote. 

Help with childcare and travel

If you want to join a course, but you're worried that you can't afford to pay for books, travel or childcare, you may be able to apply for help towards these costs.

If you're granted financial support, but then decide to leave before the course ends, you may have to repay any money you've received.

Support for learners

When you're learning with us we'll make sure you get all the support you need from your tutor and our platform for learning.

Everyone is here to help. We'll listen and respond to any challenges you're having whilst you're here as a learner, from the time you call to enquire about a course to your last day. It's crucial to us all that you feel safe and supported as you learn and achieve.

If you need extra support with your learning please tell us. We'll complete an assessment to see what help we can offer you. We may be able to give you access to an education support worker, equipment or assistive technology to make learning easier for you.

We can also support you with extra help in exams, such as extra time, a reader or scribe, or specialist equipment.

Pastoral mentors

We understand that doing something new is exciting but sometimes it can be stressful.

You may be thinking:

• how do I organise my time?
• will I fit in?
• can I find the courage to start a course?

If this is you we can put you in touch with our pastoral mentor who can support you with:

• any worries you have about how you are going to learn with us
• overcoming anxiety and low confidence and deal with the fear of starting a new activity
• organising your time and staying on track to achieve

If you're worried about something affecting your learning

You can talk to any member of staff about safeguarding issues that are worrying you and affecting your learning. We'll make sure you're given information to support you and help you contact other services.

Safeguarding issues could include:

• domestic abuse
• hate crime
• sexual and physical abuse
• emotional and financial abuse
• modern slavery

Tell us what you think 

We welcome your feedback. This can include complaints, compliments or any general comments.

There are a number of ways you can provide us with your comments:

• Talk to someone in our team or email adultlearning@barnsley.gov.uk.
• Fill in one of our postcards located in reception and in your classroom.
• Visit our complaints and compliments webpage.
• Attend one of our 'learner feedback hub' sessions which are held across the year.