Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment.
Students (not just those classed as SEN) can have a substantial and long term need that affects their normal day to day activities, and these can be a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010. The Act states that schools and higher education institutions have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled students (including students with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia).
As well as reasonable adjustments in the classroom, schools must put in place Exam Access Arrangements, which are reasonable adjustments for candidates who have the required knowledge and skills, but who can’t demonstrate this knowledge or skills due to their disability. These arrangements must not affect the integrity of the examination or give the learner an unfair advantage.
Access Arrangements can include:
- Extra time
- A reader
- A scribe
- The use of an exam reading pen, a word processor or assistive software (screen reader/voice recognition)
- Exam papers printed on coloured paper
- Supervised rest breaks
- A separate room to take the test in
- Use of a PC
If you think a student may need an access arrangement please email the SEN service desk. If your request is for a PC, you must include an example of the student's work.