Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy

Policy Statement

This policy is aimed at learners who are undertaking or have completed a Safety Training Awards qualification. We are committed to complying with all the current and relevant regulation and legislation to the development and delivery of STA qualifications. Our aim is to facilitate open access for all learners who are eligible for reasonable adjustments or special consideration in assessments, whilst ensuring the assessment of understanding, knowledge, skills and competence is not compromised in any way for all the protected characteristics within the Equality Act 2010.

This policy will also be used by our staff to ensure they are dealing with all reasonable adjustments and special considerations request in a fair and consistent manner.
This policy outlines the following:

• Arrangements for making reasonable adjustments and special considerations in relation to the delivery and assessments of STA qualifications
• How learners qualify for reasonable adjustments and special considerations
• Reasonable adjustments we will accept and request that are required prior to them being applied
• What special consideration can be granted for learners

Definition of a Reasonable Adjustment

A reasonable adjustment relates to any actions that help reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty, which may place the learner at a disadvantage during the delivery of a qualification or an assessment situation. They are applied to an assessment process for a qualification to enable the learner with a disability or difficulty to demonstrate his or her knowledge, skills and understanding of the levels of attainment required in the qualification specification.

A reasonable adjustment relates to any actions that help reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty, which may place the learner at a disadvantage during the delivery of a qualification or an assessment situation. They are applied to an assessment process for a qualification to enable the learner with a disability or difficulty to demonstrate his or her knowledge, skills and understanding of the levels of attainment required in the qualification specification.

When a reasonable adjustment has been applied, the work produced by the learner will be marked to the same standards and assessment requirements as the work assessed of the other learners.

Definition of a Special Consideration

As an ATC our operations adhere to relevant requirements and legislation to promote fair access to assessment for all learners. We have policies and procedures in place which reflect the principles included within this document.

Assessment should be a fair test of learners’ knowledge, skills, and ability. The standard format of assessment may not be suitable for all learners, our aim is that our assessments and qualifications do not prevent any learners from attaining them.

STA Excel recognise that reasonable adjustments or special considerations may be required at the time of the assessment where the following applies:

• Learners have a permanent disability or specific learning needs
• Learners have a temporary disability, learning needs or medical condition
• Learners are not available at the time of assessment

Reasonable adjustments and special consideration arrangements are available to ensure all learners receive recognition of their achievement providing there is evidence that the equity, validity, and reliability of the assessment can be assured. These arrangements should not be used to make assessments easier for learners or give learners a head start and should not disadvantage other learners.

All requests for reasonable adjustments and special considerations will be reviewed on an individual basis and all the information received will be considered.

Principles of Granting Reasonable Adjustments

STA Excel will be supported by Safety Training Awards making reasonable adjustments by ensuring the following applies:

• Reasonable adjustments granted provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate their attainment
• The reasonable adjustment compensates for any disadvantage imposed by the disability or difficulty but do not disadvantage others
• Certificates issued do not mislead anyone regarding the learner’s attainment
• The assessments were rigorous and fair
• The assessment activity is valid and is measurable against the assessment criteria
• Assessment results are reliable

Reasonable adjustments that may be requested are as follows:

Modified enlarged manuals or assessment papers

For learners with visual impairment where enlarged text would allow them access to fair delivery and assessment (pre-assessment notice is required).

Assessment extension time

Extra time is not permitted in practical skills performance. An allowance of 25% extra time is permissible for assessment papers if the learner had learning difficulties, supported by an assessment report evidencing the need for the adjustment.

Use of reader

For learners with visual impairment whose reading skills have been tested and defined as below average or where English is a learners second language. The reader is a responsible adult who reads the questions to the learner but must not be the course tutor, assessor, relative, friend or peer to the learner. The reader must only read the question paper instructions and the questions, they must not explain or clarify. They may if requested repeat instructions, read back what has been written or give the speeling of a word on the paper.

Use of a scribe

For learners who have learning difficulties and are unable to write legibly. The scribe is a responsible adult who writes down the learners dictated answers to the questions, they must not be the course tutor, assessor, relative, friend or peer to the learner. The use of computer software that produces a hard copy of the learners dictated speech is permissible.

Use of a sign interpreter

For learners who communicate by using sign language. The interpreter is a responsible adult who is proficient in the use of sign language, they must not be the course tutor, assessor, relative, friend or peer to the learner. The interpreter must only sign the question paper instructions and the questions, they must not explain or clarify. They may if requested repeat instructions, learners are only permitted to sign their answers in coursework and exams where the answers required involve single words.

Centres may reject requests in situations as follows:

• Reasonable adjustments must not invalidate the assessment requirements set out in the qualification specification
• The content and delivery of the chosen course of study would prevent the learner from fulfilling a major section of the course affecting the assessment requirements
• Must not give the learner an unfair advantage compared to other learners for whom a reasonable adjustment has not been granted.

Procedure to Request a Reasonable Adjustment

Centre co-ordinators, tutors and assessors must endeavour to identify learner needs as soon as possible to request the appropriate adjustments are reviewed, once approved these can be implemented.

The process for requesting access arrangements and the evidence required may vary dependent upon the qualification specification, the learner’s circumstances and any other factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Reasonable adjustments may cover all the course content and not just the assessment. We ask that a request is submitted to STA Excel prior to the course starting, if the adjustment is to an assessment paper a minimum of 14 days’ notice is required. All arrangements for adjustments must be approved by STA Excel before being implemented.

All requests for reasonable adjustments and special considerations will be reviewed on an individual basis and all the information received will be considered.

STA Excel will not approve any adjustments that may compromise the assessment criteria and that may disadvantage other learners.

Centre co-ordinators, tutors and assessors may assist learners in choosing an appropriate course of study, making them aware of the qualification specification requirements. Learners may still decide to undertake/complete a qualification knowing they are unable to fulfil the assessment requirements, in this situation a certificate of attendance may be issued.

Failure to comply with this policy may constitute malpractice and the resulting disqualification of the learner.

Principles of Granting Special Considerations

Learners must have attended the course for the appropriate amount of guided learning hours and have been fully prepared by the tutor to take the assessment. If their performance in the assessment or in the production of coursework is affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control, a special consideration may be granted for a learner if they have temporarily experienced any of the following:

• Illness or injury
• An event out of the learner’s control which has or is likely to have an impact on the learner’s ability to take an assessment or demonstrate their levels of attainment during the assessment.

Any special considerations granted must:

• Treat all learners fairly
• Require the learner to fully meet the assessment requirements
• Maintain the relevance, reliability, and comparability of the assessment.
• They must not invalidate the assessment requirements set out in the qualification specification.
• Special considerations should not give the learner an unfair advantage, neither should it mislead an employer/training provider regarding the learner’s achievements for certification. The learner’s results must reflect the achievement in assessment and not their potential ability.
• If a special consideration is granted this may result in a post-assessment adjustment to the marks of the learner. The adjustment will depend on the circumstances and reflect the difficulty faced by the learner.

Procedure to Request a Special Consideration

Following an assessment STA Excel may wish to submit a reasonable adjustment and special consideration form in recognition of the difficulty a learner has encountered this is completed by STA Excel via our Synergy account. This should be submitted with all the paperwork at the end of the course within 7 working days of the assessment conclusion.

STA Excel must indicate on the form the exact nature of the adverse condition(s) that the tutor considers make the learner eligible for a special consideration, supply copies of any appropriate evidence to support the request and securely upload to Synergy prior to submitting the form.

Appealing a Decision

If the learner is not satisfied with the outcome of the decision, they may refer their complaint to the appropriate awarding organisation via the relevant policy.

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be revised annually and revised, as necessary.