Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy
Purpose
This policy is aimed at our Centres and Learners who are undertaking or have completed, a TLM qualification. We are committed to not only complying with all current and relevant regulation and legislation to the development and delivery of our qualifications but surpassing in many areas. Our aim is to facilitate open access for all Learners who are eligible for reasonable adjustments or special considerations in assessments, whilst ensuring the assessment of understanding, knowledge, skills and competence is not compromised in any way for all of the protected characteristics within the Equality Act 2010. Please refer to our Equal Opportunities Policy for more information.
This policy will also be used by our staff to ensure they are dealing with all reasonable adjustments and special considerations requests 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 assessment of our qualifications
• How Learners qualify for reasonable adjustments and special considerations
• Reasonable adjustments we will accept and requests that are required prior to them being applied
• What special considerations can be granted for Learners.
Definition of a Reasonable Adjustment
A reasonable adjustment relates to any actions that help to 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 a 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
Special consideration is a post-assessment adjustment to the marks of a Learner’s assessment paper or rearrangement of an assessment time and/or date. A special consideration can be granted after an assessment has taken place if a Learner may have been disadvantaged.
Policy
As a TLM Centre, we expect your operations to adhere to relevant requirements and legislation to promote fair access to assessment for all Learners. You should 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.
At TLM, we recognise that reasonable adjustments or special considerations may be required at the time of 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 assessments 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
TLM will support our Centres making these reasonable adjustments by ensuring that 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 a 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 has learning difficulties, supported by an assessment report evidencing the need for the adjustment.
Use of a reader
For Learners with a visual impairment whose reading skills have been tested and defined as below average or where English is a Learner’s 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 spelling 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 Learner’s 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 by TLM, 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 TLM 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 TLM before being implemented.
The TLM reasonable adjustments and special considerations form is available to complete and submit via the website https://tlm.org.uk/policy-download-Centre/.
All requests for reasonable adjustments and special considerations will be reviewed on an individual basis and all the information received will be considered.
TLM 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 Learners 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.
Note to Centres: It may not be possible to grant a special consideration where an assessment requires the Learner to demonstrate practical competence or when assessment criteria must be fully met, or in a case the qualifications confer a license to practice.
Procedure to Request a Special Consideration
Following an assessment, a Centre co-ordinator, tutor or assessor may wish to submit a reasonable adjustment and special consideration form, in recognition of the difficulty a Learner has encountered. The TLM reasonable adjustments and special considerations form is available to download and complete from https://tlm.org.uk/policy-downloadCentre/. This should be submitted with all the paperwork at the end of the course within 7 working days of the assessment conclusion.
Please indicate on the form the exact nature of the adverse condition(s) that you consider make the Learner eligible for a special consideration, supply copies of any appropriate evidence to support your request and send securely to TLM. Please note that there will be occasions when Learners are too unwell or distressed to complete an assessment and occasionally Learners do under perform.
All requests for special considerations will be reviewed on an individual basis and all the evidence received will be considered.
If the request for a special consideration is successful, the Learner’s performance will be reviewed based on the evidence that was submitted. A successful request of a special consideration will not necessarily change a Learner’s result.
TLM will not approve any special considerations that may compromise the assessment criteria and that may disadvantage other Learners.
Failure to comply with this policy may constitute malpractice and the resulting disqualification of the Learner.
Centre Responsibility
It is important that all Centre personnel involved in the management, assessment and quality assurance of all TLM qualifications, are fully aware of the contents within this policy and ensure their Learners are made aware of the policy when undertaking or completing any of our qualifications.
When an EQA visits a Centre, they may ask personnel and Learners some questions to identify if they are aware of the policy’s contents and purpose.
Arrangements Not Covered Within This Policy
If any circumstances arise relating to internal or external assessment not covered within this policy, you should contact your account manager or the office at TLM to discuss prior to the assessment taking place.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal against our decision to decline a request for a reasonable adjustment or special consideration please refer to our Enquiries and Appeals Policy, this is available on our website https://tlm.org.uk/policy-download-Centre/ or you can request a copy by contacting us.
Monitoring and Review
This policy and its procedures will be reviewed regularly for improvements as part of our quality assurance requirements. This will ensure it is fit for purpose, reflects the services we deliver to our approved training Centres and we provide services which are relevant to the requirements of individual needs.
