Introduction
At ASA, we aim to provide an environment which embraces diversity and promotes equality and inclusion in a way which is consistent with our core values, and which inspires everyone to succeed.
As one team, we are here to make a difference to every learner, to make sure the same career opportunities are available for all learners and that includes those who need a little more support. We never forget that every learner is different and that we should treat our learners as individuals.
Aim and Intent
At ASA we want all of our learners to gain as much independence and autonomy as possible. We aim to do this by delivering an inclusive learning environment which makes learning accessible to all of our apprentices and learners studying a work-based qualification who have learning difficulties, disabilities or those that need mentoring support to help them complete their qualification and achieve their learning goals.
Additional Learning Support (ALS) is a key element of ASA’s mission of removing barriers and raising achievement for everyone to ensure learners are getting the correct support. We do this by:
- Supporting you with your disabilities and/or learning difficulties to encourage you to become independent and autonomous at both work and your place of study
- Complying with the Disability Discrimination Act, the Equality Act, the Data Protection Act, Safeguarding legislation and the SEND Code of Practice.
What is a reasonable adjustment?
The Equality Act 2010 calls the arrangements that we will make to your studies ‘Reasonable Adjustments’. Adjustments might include providing exam papers in alternative formats, provision of a scribe or extra time, or providing enlarged screens. We will as far as practicable, provide reasonable adjustments for any learner who has a disability or impairment, health condition or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia who may need certain facilities, assistive technology or support services to enable them to make the most of their studies or training. This can include alternative exam or assessment arrangements.
As far as possible, we anticipate and remove any likely barriers for our disabled learners. Where that is not possible, reasonable adjustments will be made to overcome those barriers as far as reasonably practicable.
Such reasonable adjustments may be for a permanent or temporary disability or medical condition and could apply to:
- The process of admission onto courses
- The delivery of teaching, consistent with the learning outcomes of a programme or unit
- The examination and assessment process (which can be made prior to or just after examinations or assessments have been sat)
We ensure that our reasonable adjustments and special considerations:
- Do not invalidate the assessment requirements set out in the specification for the relevant qualification
- Reflect the current needs of the individual learner as advised by the centre and as far as is reasonably possible, their usual methods of working.
- Do not give the learner an unfair advantage compared to learners for whom access arrangements are not being made.
- Maintain the relevance, validity, reliability, comparability, and integrity of the assessment.
- Take account of all current legislation that has an impact on equality of access to assessment and qualifications.
Declaring a disability
Any additional learning needs should be highlighted during the enrolment/induction process.
If you are an apprentice/learner, you should notify us on your application form and/or during your induction call of any learning difficulty or disability that they may have. Once we have discussed any additional learning needs with you, this information will be provided (with your consent) where appropriate to the teams which will be directly involved with your learning, for example, your tutor or your educational practitioner.
Our trained ASA team members will ensure that any such information will be treated confidentially and with sensitivity.
How we will support you
Once our advisors have considered what adjustments future or current learners with disabilities or difficulties may need, then appropriate provision can be made. The sooner this is completed the better, especially if any specialist equipment is needed. What is reasonable will depend on the individual circumstances, the impact of the disability, cost implications and the practicality and effectiveness of the adjustment.
We try to be as prepared as possible for all our learners’ needs, but everybody is unique and sometimes we might not be fully prepared, and we’ll need to make every potential learner feel welcome while we think on our feet and work with them to try to find a solution.
External examinations and assessments
The assessment requirements of the qualification and the planned programme of study will be outlined at the enrolment stage. In the majority of cases, it will be your responsibility to inform the relevant Awarding Organisation e.g. City & Guilds of an additional learning need, which may result in adjustments to the assessment process, including extra time. The Awarding Organisation will then notify us of this when exams are booked with the specific institutes. Please contact your awarding organisation for further details regarding external examinations.
Internal assessments
For internal assessments completed through ASA, we can build in additional time in line with the concessions granted by your awarding organisation. Please advise Head Office of this requirement at the point of enrolment.
Access arrangements
Listed below are some examples of the access arrangements we can put in place for you for external exams or assessments:
- Extra time or the opportunity to take rest breaks during an exam
- Use of assistive technology (e.g. computer equipment, specialist software, a reader, or a scribe)
- Use of a separate room
- Assistance from a prompter, a scribe (amanuensis) or a reader.
Adjustments after the exam
Special consideration involves procedures that may result in an adjustment to your marks if you have not been able to demonstrate attainment because of exceptional circumstances during the examination itself. This is determined by the individual awarding organisation. Please refer to each Institute’s individual guidance here.
If you believe that you have been disadvantaged in the examination through circumstances beyond your control – for example, illness during the examination, you may make a request for special consideration. You should ensure that the invigilator records the circumstances and then the centre will complete the necessary Special Consideration Form and submit this to the awarding body no later than 14 days after the examination. The application will need to be supported by appropriate evidence, for example, a doctor’s letter in the case of illness.
