[SENco-forum] access arrangements

Exam concessions are only awarded if it is something the child already uses  i.e. if they have a scribe or use Dragon normally in class then they can in the exam.

The bizarre exception to this is a child with SpLD who uses TextHELP with predictive software, spoken dictionary and spelling/homophone alert.  All have to be switched off!

The reason my daughter uses them is that she was assessed as being unable to access the Nat. Curr. and Literacy tasks with them - just as a child might relying on signing.  She cannot see right/wrong spellings.  If she is alerted to a wrong spelling by Windows putting a squiggly line under a word she applies all her known spelling rules & strategies.  This then brings the word up to a level where a spellchecker can offer some possibilities.  Prior to this first stage her spell checker just goes haywire as she is such a bizarre speller.  Even with only 4 words on offer she is still unable to select the right one.  She needs to hear them and then makes the right choice (mostly).  Without either of the above her work is gibberish and more akin to an 80 IQ than the 141IQ she has. She might be better off with a transcription although I defy anyone but me to be able to read it.

Sadly she is only allowed to use her computer as a plunk, plunk typewriter and seeing as her writing is perfectly legible this is no concession or 'appropriate access arrangement' at all.  Her gadgets cannot make her appear better or brighter than her 141 IQ should allow her to be.  It might make her better than 'average' but she is not an average IQ.  I cannot turn off her intelligence and it is discriminatory in the extreme to handicap her further by not allowing her to use support that she normally uses in class. 

Sharon Tringham

PS There are some free screen readers on the internet or I purchased Text Help's screen reader Genie some years ago for £25.

 Earlier posting:

I have looked very carefully at who would benefit from a reader given the papers they are sitting and the level.  There are some who should not even be doing a GCSE, but as we can't possibly offer Certificate Level for just 3 or 4 students across the board they are in with the rest for now.  In small groups I will be doing some comprehension type work, based on questions and answers in exam type conditions and getting them to 'share a reader' and waiting if needed.

If technology/finance allows next year I will look at 'Screen readers' which looked a good way forward when I saw one in use last year.  5 children sitting in a room  headphones on, listening to the questions, typing their answers and only one person needed to watch over them

I am not going down the route of scribes unless no other choice, but will allow them to word process if it is faster than their writing or will transcribe.  It is only if they are physically unable that I might go for a scribe, but then Speaking software is available such as Dragon is permissible.

Whilst I want the children to do the best they can, it should not provide them with an advantage other other students who are not allowed to word process etc.

Susie  

-
C