[Senco-forum] Access Arrangements Qualification

Fri Mar 30 08:13:13 BST 2012

Hello
I agree that everyone needs to feel confident to undertake any role they are asked to do.  I'd also say that you must not take on testing for access arrangements unless you can find the time to do it properly.  If anyone want the 'division of labour' we use in our school, let me know.
I don't see why expensive training is needed.
All the tests I use are open access to teachers.
As a teacher who assesses pupils against National Curriculum and GCSE examination criteria all the time as part of my job, I would have been insulted if my Examinations Officer had asked me to prove my competence to do standardised tests in order to assess for access arrangements.
I've also been a SENCO for years and routinely access pupils as part of that role.  I can't see the difference between that and access arrangements tests.
The Regulations clearly state that the Head of Centre must be confident that you can do the Specialist Teacher role.  Training for it is not specified.  I suggest that people buy the Patoss book called 'Dyslexia: Assessing the need for Access Arrangements during Examinations A Practical Guide' when each new edition comes out (less than £15 including postage) and read the Regulations booklet really carefully each September.  See http://www.jcq.org.uk/attachments/published/1096/AA%20regs%202011-2012%20edited%2011102011.pdf (free but it costs to print it out)  If you feel that you need support, make a group of local secondary SENCOs and do some peer coaching (cost - a bit of transport plus £5 for decent biscuits).  

Amanda

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall

Please support Shelterbox - an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. http://www.shelterbox.org/

________________________________
From: Debbie <debbiebrown219 at hotmail.com>
To: Amanda <amandavh at btinternet.com> 
Cc: L Stephen <L.Stephen at uplandscc.com>; "Senco-forum at lists.education.gov.uk" <Senco-forum at lists.education.gov.uk> 
Sent: Thursday, 29 March 2012, 22:08
Subject: Re: [Senco-forum] Access Arrangements Qualification

Would you be confident that you know how to administer the necessary tests and score them correctly without training?  I wondered also whether all tests needed are 'open' ones, available to someone without specialist training?  You could check the list of suitable tests which I think is available from JCQ.  

Personally I wouldn't have wanted to undertake the testing without adequate training; it's quite a responsibility.  I know when I have been on various cpd training events, that providers, when discussing assessing for access arrangements, have highlighted the problem of 'pressure' being put on people to undertake this training without the necessary training.

If you do want to look further into training in the use of various tests, Real Training do a four day 'crash course' in competency in educational testing (CCET) to which you can add an additional module re Access Arrangements.  This four day intensive course is followed up by a period of consolidating that knowledge 'on the job'.  Communicate-ed offer lots of courses, and I have always found them to be well presented etc.  Patoss could be another really good source of advice and provider of training.

I have OCR Dip RSA SpLD and my Head of Centre, the exams officer, wanted proof of the necessary competence to undertake the assessments, which involved providing copies of certificates etc.

Good luck with it all.

Debbie

Sent from my iPad

On 29 Mar 2012, at 21:34, Amanda <amandavh at btinternet.com> wrote:

Hello
>You don't need a specific qualification.  As long as you are a teacher and the Head of Centre is satisfied that you can carry out the assessments, you can do it.  Form 8a needs to be completed so your Exams Officer can fill in Access Arrangements Online.  This is available in the JCQ site at http://www.jcq.org.uk/attachments/published/1167/Form%208A~Assessing%20Candidates%20for%20Access%20Arrangements.doc
>If you've not done it before, a course could be useful.
> 
>Sorry about the spacing on this.  It doesn't usually look so odd!
>The Regulations book http://www.jcq.org.uk/attachments/published/1096/AA%20regs%202011-2012%20edited%2011102011.pdf says:
> 4.5 Assessment by a specialist teacher4.5.1 
>Teachers who assess candidates for access arrangements do not need prior JCQapproval for their specialist qualifications. The head of centre is responsible for the
>approval of specialist teachers
>.4.5.2 The specialist teacher is required to establish that the results of tests in reading and/or writing
>present evidence that the candidate has a learning difficulty because it is clear that he or she
>is performing in the below average band.
>4.5.3 
>If a specialist teacher is signing the form, he/she must have carried out theparticular assessment(s).4.6 Approval of a specialist teacher by a head of centre4.6A head of centre must take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that the teacher assessing
>candidates’ needs has the required level of competence.The head of centre is responsible for the quality of the access arrangements process
>within his or her centre, as he or she would be for the delivery of the curriculum and the
>appointment of teaching staff.When a specialist teacher has been approved by the head of centre, the exams officer 
>must enter their name into Access arrangements online to confirm their status. Evidence of the specialistteacher’s ability to meet the criteria set out in section 4.7, page 51, must be available in
>the centre for inspection purposes.
>Amanda
>
>
>
>Amanda
>Secondary SENCO
>Cornwall
>
>
>Please support Shelterbox - an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. http://www.shelterbox.org/
>
>
>________________________________
>From: L Stephen <L.Stephen at uplandscc.com>
>To: "'Senco-forum at lists.education.gov.uk'" <Senco-forum at lists.education.gov.uk> 
>Sent: Thursday, 29 March 2012, 21:16
>Subject: [Senco-forum] Access Arrangements Qualification
>
>
>I have spent many hours trying to get my head round what qualification/s I need to get to be able to complete access arrangement assessments.  I keep working on leads as to providers who offer such courses but then get even more confused.
>
>I currently have an MA (Ed) and am completing the SENCO Qualification but do not have anything which covers me .  My school is keen for me to complete the relevant qualifications if I can find a suitable course/s.
>
>Has anyone recently completed one?
>
>Thanks
>Lucy Stephen
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