In the prototype
Learner voice
Learner voice software that keeps the learner's own words at the centre of every support record, from first request to review. What the prototype shows today.
Role
Inclusion Studio for learners and apprentices
What learners and apprentices see in Inclusion Studio: their own support plan, a chance to say what helps, to disagree, and to give feedback on support.
In short
Learners see their own plan, say what helps in their own words, can disagree with a plan and have that recorded, and give feedback on whether support is working. They do not see other learners' information.
Support should be done with you, not to you. Inclusion Studio is designed so that the learner is part of every step, not a name on someone else’s record. This page explains what that means for learners and apprentices. It is written for colleges and providers to share, and the plain-language version for learners will be built with them.
What does a learner’s experience look like?
You start college or an apprenticeship and something would make it easier: a quieter space for exams, notes before class, a different way to show what you know. Normally you have to explain this several times, to different people, and hope it is passed on. Then it may not happen, and nobody asks you whether it helped.
What do learners need?
- To be asked what helps, and to be listened to.
- To see what has been written about you, and to say if it is wrong.
- To be able to disagree.
- To know who can see what.
- To say, simply, whether support is working.
- Information in an accessible format.
What do learners see in Inclusion Studio?
The design follows Understand, Agree, Deliver, Review.
- Say what helps. You can share what works for you in your own words. Staff can also record a conversation with you, using your words. See learner voice.
- See your plan. Your agreed support is written in plain language. See support plans. You can say you agree, partly agree or disagree.
- Know what is happening. You can see what support is planned and, where your provider shares it, what has happened.
- Say if it helped. At review you are asked whether support helped and whether you want it kept, changed or stopped. See reviews.
If you disagree with part of your plan, that is recorded and visible to the staff who decide. It is not hidden or overwritten. The aim is a real conversation, not a form.
What do learners not see?
You do not see other learners’ information. You may not see internal staff notes that are not about your support, and your provider decides what appears in your view. Permissions are enforced on the server by organisation, relationship and field. See permissions and roles.
Who can see my information?
It depends on their job. A tutor sees what they need to support you in class. An inclusion lead sees the full plan. Senior leaders usually see patterns across many learners, not your personal story. If you are an apprentice, your employer sees only the workplace adjustments agreed and their own actions. They never see your full history. See employers and data protection officers for how your information is handled.
How does AI fit in?
AI is optional. The full journey works without it. If a provider uses it, a draft is clearly labelled as a draft, a person reviews it before anything is saved, and it never diagnoses, refuses support or decides anything. Gemini on Google Cloud Vertex AI is the selected provider, tested with synthetic data only in a preview environment. The live application uses a mock, and no real learner data has been sent to any AI provider. See AI drafts and AI principles.
Is it accessible?
Inclusion Studio aims to meet WCAG 2.2 AA, with manual checks by people who use assistive technology still to come for critical journeys. That is a target, not a finished claim. See accessibility features and the accessibility statement.
What are a learner’s rights?
Your college or provider has legal duties to make reasonable adjustments if you are disabled, under the Equality Act 2010. If you are up to age 25 and have special educational needs, the SEND code of practice also applies. Software does not change those rights. For background, see reasonable adjustments in further education and learner voice in further education. If you are unhappy with your support, speak to your provider’s learning support team first.
What is the current status?
Inclusion Studio is not yet used with real learners. It is pre-pilot: there is a prototype with fictional learners and a production application being built on synthetic data. The pilot starts with FE colleges and apprenticeship providers. If you work with learners and want to help design the learner view with them, contact us. See also inclusion leads and the roles overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see my own support plan?
Yes. The design is that learners see their own plan, written in plain language, and can say whether they agree with it.
What if I disagree with the plan?
Your disagreement is recorded, not hidden. The aim is to talk it through, and the plan shows where you and the college or provider have not agreed.
Will my employer see my plan?
No. If you are an apprentice, your employer sees only the workplace adjustments and their own actions, not your full history.
Do I have to use AI?
No. AI is optional and the journey works without it. If a draft is used, it is labelled and a person checks it before it is saved.
Sources and further reading
- SEND code of practice 0 to 25 years (GOV.UK)
- Equality Act 2010, section 20 (duty to make adjustments)
Official guidance changes. Check the source before relying on any detail, and take professional advice for individual cases.
Help shape the pilot
We are working with a small number of England FE colleges and apprenticeship providers first. Tell us about your learner support and we will be in touch.