Home > Policies > Policy for Learning Support and Reasonable Adjustments Policy for Learning Support and Reasonable Adjustments

As part of our equal opportunity policy, we are committed to providing access and individual learning support to learners by making reasonable adjustments whenever possible. We will review the policy as part of our self-evaluation arrangements and revise it as necessary in response to learner feedback, changes in our practices, actions from the regulatory authorities or as a result of changes in legislation.

If you would like to feedback any views please contact us via the details provided at the end of this policy.

We can provide a range of support and guidance to learners who have declared a particular learning need that is supported with a statement of learning need. We will also provide advice and guidance for students with a declared learning need.

This includes:

• Dyslexia.

• Other Specific Learning Needs.

• Disabilities.

This policy applies to our learners who are undertaking or have completed a course with us. It is also for use by our staff to ensure they deal with all reasonable adjustment and special consideration requests in a consistent manner.

This policy outlines:

• our arrangements for making reasonable adjustments and special considerations in relation to our accredited CPD certification courses

• how learners qualify for reasonable adjustments and special considerations

• the reasonable adjustments we will permit and those where permission is required in advance before they are applied

• what special considerations will be given to learners

Arrangements not covered by this policy

Circumstances for both internal and external assessment not covered in this policy should be discussed with DL SET Academy before assessment takes place. Please contact us via the details provided at the end of this policy.

Appeals

If you wish to appeal against our decision to decline requests for reasonable adjustments or special consideration arrangements, please refer to our Appeals Policy.

 

Additional Support Procedure for Learners’ Needs

We recognise that learners who apply for and attend our training programmes will have differing and variable needs. In support of our Equality and Diversity Policy, we intend to accommodate learner’s individual needs, wherever possible.

To enable us to identify any specific learning needs, agree appropriate adjustments and support and evaluate the effectiveness of our provision, we will include the following procedures:

• Course Audition Process

o As part of the audition process prior to booking, applicants complete a form to identify any individual learning needs or physical needs that may necessitate adjustments or additions to the training programme.

• During the Training Programme

o Master Trainers observe and discuss with learners any changes or adjustments that may be necessary to enable them to have equal access to the webinar or face to face training events.

• Learner Evaluation Form

o After each training event and at the end of each programme we request written and verbal evaluation from the learner to enable us to assess the extent to which we are able to satisfactorily accommodate the learner’s individual needs.

Requesting reasonable adjustments or special considerations

If you wish to make a request, you should complete the Reasonable Adjustment and Special Consideration request form (see contact details below to request form) and in doing so, supply relevant supporting information:

• learner’s name

• nature of, and rationale for the request

• supporting information/evidence (e.g. medical evidence or a statement from the invigilator or any other appropriate information)

Requests for reasonable adjustments should be submitted a minimum of 20 working days before the assessment.

Requests for special consideration should be submitted as soon as possible after the assessment and a maximum of five working days after the assessment. Requests for special consideration may only be accepted after the results of assessment have been released in the following circumstances:

• application has been overlooked at the centre and the oversight is confirmed by the centre contact

• medical evidence comes to light about a learner’s condition, which demonstrates that the learner must have been affected by the condition at the time of the assessment, even though the problem revealed itself only after the assessment

• for onscreen assessments where results are immediately available

If the application for special consideration is successful, the learner’s performance will be reviewed based on the available evidence. It should be noted that a successful application of special consideration will not necessarily change a learner’s result.

 

Definition of reasonable adjustments

A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the learner at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation. They are made to an assessment for an accredited CPD certification to enable a disabled learner to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of the levels of attainment required by the specification for that certification.

Reasonable adjustments must not affect the integrity of what needs to be assessed (i.e. the ability of a learner to safely and effectively deliver the high-quality class experience using the environment and equipment required in the signature product), but may involve:

• changing usual assessment arrangements

• adapting assessment materials

• providing assistance during assessment

• re-organising the assessment room

• changing the assessment method

• permitting the use of assistive technology

Reasonable adjustments are approved or set in place before the assessment activity takes place; they constitute an arrangement to give the learner access to the programme. The use of a reasonable adjustment will not be taken into consideration during the assessment of a learner’s work.

DL SET Academy is only required by law to do what is ‘reasonable’ in terms of giving access. What is reasonable will depend on the individual circumstances, cost implications and the practicality and effectiveness of the adjustment. Other factors, such as the need to maintain competence standards and health and safety, will also be taken into consideration.

 

Definition of special considerations

Special consideration can be applied after an assessment if there was a reason the learner may have been disadvantaged during the assessment.

For example, special consideration could apply to a learner who had temporarily experienced:

• an illness or injury

• some other event outside of their control and which has had, or is likely to have had, a material effect on that learner’s ability to take an assessment or demonstrate his or her level of attainment in an assessment

Special consideration should not give the learner an unfair advantage; neither should its use cause the user of the certificate to be misled regarding a learner’s achievements. The learner’s result must reflect their achievement in the assessment and not necessarily their potential ability.

Special consideration, if successful, may result in a small post-assessment adjustment to the mark of the learner. The size of the adjustment will depend on the circumstances and reflect the difficulty faced by the learner.

Learners should note that:

• where an assessment requires the learner to demonstrate practical competence or where criteria have to be met fully it may not be possible to apply special consideration

• in some circumstances, for example, for on-demand assessments, it may be more appropriate to offer the learner an opportunity to take the assessment at a later date.