Policy Statement
This policy provided for Dark Olive CIC staff members and learners to ensure they deal with all reasonable adjustment and special consideration requests in a consistent manner.
Statement of Principles
Dark Olive CIC is committed to complying with all current and relevant legislation in relation to the development and delivery of qualifications. Dark Olive CIC learners will have fair access to assessments where practicable.
A reasonable adjustment may be required where a learner has a permanent disability of specific learning need (s).
A special consideration may be required where a learner has a temporary disability, medical condition or learning needs or is indisposed at the time of the assessment.
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 during an assessment.
Reasonable adjustments may involve:
- Changing usual assessment arrangements, for example allowing a learner extra time to complete the assessment activity
- Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in Braille
- Providing assistance during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or a reader
- Re-organising the assessment room, such as removing visual stimuli for an autistic learner
- Providing and allowing different coloured transparencies
Reasonable adjustments are approved or set in place by an awarding organisation before the assessment activity takes place; they constitute an arrangement to give the learner access to the assessment.
Requesting Reasonable Adjustments
Learners must make Dark Olive CIC staff members aware of any reasonable adjustments they require. Dark Olive CIC is responsible for applying to the awarding organisation for reasonable adjustment requests (when appropriate). Dark Olive CIC will submit an application to the awarding organisation for reasonable adjustment in a timely manner.
A candidate requesting a reasonable adjustment must provide all relevant and sufficient evidence to support the application such as a medical certificate, a doctor’s letter or any other appropriate information (Centres are required to declare that they have received and had sight of the authentic copy).
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. Any requests to an awarding organisation for Special Considerations, must be made by a Dark Olive CIC staff member within the set time frame required of the awarding organisation.
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.
All documents relating to reasonable adjustments and special considerations must be saved and stored securely. The awarding organisation must be given access to any information or documents regarding reasonable adjustments and special considerations, when requested.
