Reasonable Adjustments & Special Considerations

1. Purpose

We make sure that a learner with a disability, learning difficulty, medical condition or temporary circumstance has an equal opportunity to demonstrate their competence, without giving them an unfair advantage or lowering the standard of the qualification. This policy follows Highfield’s Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy.

2. Reasonable adjustments (arranged before assessment)

• Examples: extra time; a reader or scribe; enlarged or coloured paper; a separate room; rest breaks; use of a hearing loop; adapted practical arrangements.
• The learner (or employer) should tell us at booking, and no later than 10 working days before the course, what adjustment is needed. Some adjustments must be approved by Highfield in advance and cannot be arranged on the day.
• We may ask for evidence such as a medical letter, an educational psychologist’s report or evidence of adjustments made at school or in previous assessments.
• Adjustments cannot change what is being assessed. In particular, the English language requirement and the physical demands of physical intervention and first aid assessments are part of the qualification and cannot be removed.
• We confirm in writing what has been agreed before the course starts.

3. Special considerations (after an assessment is affected)

• Applied for where a learner’s performance was affected by illness, injury, bereavement or another event outside their control immediately before or during an assessment.
• Tell the tutor on the day. We submit the request to Highfield with supporting evidence within its deadline. Highfield decides the outcome, which may be a small adjustment to a mark or an opportunity to re-sit.

4. Confidentiality and appeals

Information provided under this policy is held confidentially and shared only with Highfield as required. A learner who disagrees with a decision under this policy may appeal under Policy 6.