Introduction
This Policy is designed to assist Training Providers and students who are registered on any iPET Network qualification or unit.
Training Providers responsibility
It is important that relevant Training Provider staff and learners are fully aware of the contents of the policy. Dublin Dog Grooming Quality Advisers will check that relevant staff and students are aware of its contents and purpose.
Arrangements not covered by this policy
If you encounter circumstances not covered in this policy affecting either internal or external assessment you must agree any variation in the specified assessment arrangements with iPET Network before assessment takes place. Please contact us via the details provided at the end of this policy.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal against a decision to decline requests for reasonable adjustments or special consideration arrangements, please refer to the iPET Network Enquiries and Appeals Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Equality Act 2010 requires an awarding body to make reasonable adjustments where a candidate, who is disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, would be at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to someone who is not disabled. The awarding body is required to take reasonable steps to overcome that disadvantage. An example would be a Braille paper which would be a reasonable adjustment for a vision impaired person who could read Braille.
A reasonable adjustment may be unique to that individual and may not be included in the list of available access arrangements.
Whether an adjustment will be considered reasonable will depend on a number of factors which will include, but are not limited to:
• the needs of the disabled candidate/student.
• the effectiveness of the adjustment.
• the cost of the adjustment; and
• the likely impact of the adjustment upon the candidate and other candidates.
An adjustment will not be approved if it:
• involves unreasonable costs to the awarding body.
• involves unreasonable timeframes; or
• affects the security and integrity of the assessment.
This is because the adjustment is not “reasonable”
Dublin Dog Grooming Reasonable Adjustments Permissions
This table outlines some of the decisions on reasonable adjustments that can be made. However, Training Providers have a duty to seek advice from iPET Network in any case where they are in doubt if an adjustment is needed or how it should be applied.
• Permitted – Reasonable adjustment permitted at the discretion of the training provider
• Apply – Apply to iPET Network for permission
Reasonable adjustment
Assessments NOT taken under examination conditions
Assessments taken under examination conditions
Extra time up to 25%
Permitted
Permitted/ Apply *
Extra time in excess of 25%
Permitted
Apply
Supervised rest breaks
Permitted
Apply
Change in the organisation of assessment room
Permitted
Permitted
Separate accommodation within the training provider
Permitted
Permitted
Taking the assessment at an alternative venue
Permitted
Permitted
Use of coloured overlays, low vision aids, tinted spectacles, CCTV and OCR scanners
Permitted
Apply
Use of assistive software
Permitted/ Apply *
Apply
Use of bilingual and bilingual translation dictionaries
Permitted
Apply
Assessment Material in enlarged format
Permitted
Apply
Assessment material in Braille
Apply
Apply
Language modified assessment material
Apply
Apply
Assessment material in BSL
Apply
Apply
Assessment material on coloured paper
Permitted
Apply
Assessment material in audio format
Apply
Apply
Use of ICT
Permitted/ Apply *
Apply
Responses using electronic devices
Permitted
Apply
Responses in BSL
Permitted
Apply
Responses in Braille
Permitted
Apply
Reader
Permitted
Apply
Scribe
Permitted
Apply
BSL/English interpreter
Permitted
Apply
Prompter
Permitted
Apply
Practical assistant
Apply
Apply
Transcriber
Permitted
Apply
Other
Apply
Apply
Applying for Reasonable Adjustment The process for implementing reasonable adjustments depends on the nature of the adjustment. Some adjustments may be used at the discretion of the Centre; others require permission from iPET Network. These are detailed in the above Reasonable Adjustment Permissions Table.
Reasonable adjustments permitted at the discretion of the training provider where reasonable adjustment is permitted at the discretion of the training provider iPET Network requires Training Providers to keep records for inspection (including any declarations that are signed and dated by a member of the training provider staff who has formally been given delegated authority for this by the Head of Training Provider).
Reasonable adjustments requiring iPET Network permission is required Training Providers should complete a Reasonable Adjustment Request Form providing relevant details and, where appropriate, supporting evidence. Requests for reasonable adjustments should be submitted no later than 25 working days before the assessment.
Training Providers should keep records of adjustments they have permitted and those they have requested from iPET Network. These records should normally be kept for 3 years following the assessment to which they apply.
Special Considerations Special consideration can be applied after an assessment if there was a reason the student may have been disadvantaged during the assessment.
For example, special consideration could apply to a student who had temporarily experienced:
• Incapacitating illness
• Serious injury
• Terminal illness
• Recent bereavement of a family member or close friend
• Terminal illness of a parent, child or dependent
• Serious domestic crisis
• Serious car accident
• Flare up of congenital illness
• Physical assault trauma
Please not this list is not exhaustive.
Special consideration should not give the student an unfair advantage; neither should its use cause the user of the certificate to be misled regarding a student’s achievements. The student’s result must reflect his / her achievement in the assessment and not necessarily his / her potential ability.
Training Providers should note that;
• where an assessment requires the student to demonstrate practical competence or where criteria have to be met fully, or in the case of qualifications that confer a Licence to Practise, it may not be possible to apply special consideration.
• in some circumstances for example on-demand assessments or Externally Verified qualifications, it will usually be more appropriate to offer the student an opportunity to take the assessment at a later date.
Applying for a Special Consideration Requests for special consideration should be submitted using the Special Consideration Request Form as soon as possible and not later than 5 working days after the assessment. Requests for special consideration will only be accepted after the results of assessment have been released in the following circumstances:
• the application has been overlooked at the training provider and the oversight is confirmed by the training provider co-coordinator.
• medical evidence comes to light about a learner’s condition, which demonstrates that the student must have been affected by the condition at the time of the assessment, even though the problem revealed itself only after the assessment;
• for onscreen assessments where results are immediately available.
If the application for special consideration is successful, the student’s performance will be reviewed in the light of available evidence. It should be noted that a successful application of special consideration will not necessarily change a student’s result.
Appeals If you wish to appeal against a decision to decline requests for reasonable adjustments or special consideration arrangements, please refer to the Dublin Dog Grooming Appeals Policy.
Review arrangements Dublin Dog Grooming will review the policy regularly as part of our self-evaluation arrangements and revise it as and when necessary in response to customer and student feedback, changes in our practices, actions from the regulatory authorities or external agencies or changes in legislation.
