Support for SEN in schools
Support with exams
Children / young people with SEND may get support when taking exams.
These are known as 'exam concessions', 'access arrangements' or 'reasonable adjustments'.
It means that children / young people with special educational needs, disabilities, or temporary injuries can take part in assessments, without changing the demands of the assessment.
For those with special educational needs, it means they can demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the subject, without being disadvantaged by their SEN in areas that are not being tested.
Eligibility
Children / young people don't automatically get support with exams because they have SEN.
Some children will get support with exams, even though they don't have SEN.
The decision is at the discretion of the individual Schools Examinations Officer, working with the SENCO.
How to access support
Primary
Access arrangements might be used to support pupils who have difficulties with:
- reading
- writing
- difficultly with concentration, and / or processing difficulties.
Arrangements for 2021
From 2021, decisions about Key Stage 2 access arrangements are delegated to headteachers.
They do not need to submit applications for additional time, or submit notifications that pupils used an aid, in the Key Stage 2 tests for 2021.
See GOV.UK: Key Stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements.
Secondary
Schools need to comply with Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).
Schools need to demonstrate the young person's history of need, including evidence of the support they have been given, and the persistent difficulty they have experienced over time.
See the Joint Council for Qualifications.
What might be available
Arrangements will be made on an individual basis.
Some of the most common arrangements are:
- Extra time - usually around 25 per cent, although more time can be given to candidates with more severe difficulties and disability on an individual case by case basis.
- A reader: Readers can be used for candidates who have visual impairments, or a disability that affects their ability to read accurately themselves.
- A scribe: Scribes can be allocated to candidates who have a disability or injury that affects their ability to write legibly.
- Modified papers: These are papers which must be ordered well in advance of the exam in different sizes, fonts, colours, braille, or modified language.
- Assistive technology: If the candidate uses assistive technology as their normal way of working, they will be able to continue this for exams.
- A separate room to complete examinations