This Access Arrangements training course is for everyone involved in Access Arrangements assessments for General Qualifications. This includes Access Arrangements Assessors, SENCos, Examinations Officers and Educational Psychologists working at school and FE level. Information about the ‘Access Arrangements Online’ system for applying for Access Arrangements will be covered, including recent changes.

We have a separate course for overseas centres which covers the slightly different requirements for schools and colleges which are based outside the UK. Please contact online at communicate-ed dot org dot uk for more details.

The course covers:

• Rationale for Access Arrangements
• Access Arrangements Online - how to apply and recent changes
• Types of Access Arrangement
• Recommendations for tests and assessments
• Roles, responsibilities & systems
• Completing Form 8
• Resources for screening
• Case studies
• Copies of 45 recommended tests will be available for examination at our face to face course

This course is SASC approved for 5 hours of CPD but it is best to allow 8 hours to give plenty of time for the action points and case studies.

The course tutors are Caroline Read and Lia Castiglione.

Caroline Read

Caroline is a Specialist Teacher who has practical experience in all areas of the Access Arrangements process and trains for LAs, Universities and SEN Services. Caroline contributed to the PATOSS/JCQ publication ‘Dyslexia: Assessing the need for Access Arrangements’, has been published in academic journals and has worked with various publishers to develop tests. She was part of the working party which set up ‘Access Arrangements Online’ and has been involved with other DfE and Ofqual training and policy projects.

Lia Castiglione

Lia Castiglione is Head of Training at Communicate-ed. She has been teaching and supporting learners of all ages for over 25 years and in varying educational settings. She is a specialist teacher who is highly experienced in all aspects of access arrangements, has held a current Assessment Practising Certificate since 2008 and regularly assesses in schools and colleges. Lia is the co-creator of a postgraduate access arrangements assessor course and is the author of the Patoss/JCQ book, ‘Assessing the Need for Access Arrangements.’ Lia serves on the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) Board of Directors.

This course is available as an online video presentation. Click ‘Book Pre-recorded Online Course’ below for this option.

This online course now relates to the 2022/23 JCQ guidance.

Our next face to face and webinar course dates (all on 2022/23 JCQ guidance) are below.

• Thursday 10th November - Live Webinar (9.30am-4.30pm)
  
• Friday 18th November - Face to Face at Richmond School, North Yorkshire
• Tuesday 17th January 2023 - Face to Face in Manchester

Our course tutors can come to your school or college to run the training face to face. Please email for more information (admin at communicate-ed dot org dot uk).

To view our 5 minute Introduction to Communicate-ed Online video please CLICK HERE.

For nearly two decades we have been running courses across the country, aiming to provide high quality, value for money training for education professionals working in the area of special needs. Many of our delegates are telling us that it is increasingly difficult for busy professionals to take the opportunity to attend courses ‘off-site’. In response to this, we now offer a number of online training courses, focusing on Examination Access Arrangements, Assessment, and Supporting SEN Students.

With the internet now so accessible, the advantages of online courses are clear:

• They can be accessed at the delegate’s convenience, in the workplace or home
• Delegates don’t need to travel, saving time and transport costs
• Running costs are lower, allowing us to pass savings on to our delegates

Courses can be viewed at any time, and in any venue where there is a good internet reception.

As standard, you will have 10 days (or for some courses 20 days) from the start date you choose, to login and view the course. You can run the course as many times as you want to within this 10/20 day period. We also run special offers for some courses which give unlimited access to courses to the end of an academic year.

N.B. Delegates will need a good broadband connection to access our online courses.

This course is not assessed. However, for an extra £10 you can take an online multiple choice assessment that proves your knowledge of the JCQ regulations and procedures. If you pass, you can print out a certificate confirming your knowledge of the regulations to put in your CPD folder. To add this to your booking, please select it below when it asks if you want to ‘add assessment’.

​Upon completing this course, you will receive a SASC certificate for 5 hours SASC-approved core CPD.