[senco-forum] access arrangements

agree with Ruth. <<<

I do the assessments for access arrangements at my school and we have 
quite a number of students who qualify. I screen all pupils at the 
start of year 9 for arrangements for SATs and again at the start of 
year 10 in time for GCSEs. Some pupils who qualify at key stage 3 do 
not qualify at key stage 4 and vice versa. I know it's a lot of 
testing, but I've found this is the most effective way of making sure 
that the arrangements we put in place are the most appropriate. I also 
monitor through the year to make sure that students are using their 
access arrangements during internal exams. It's not fool-proof, but I'm 
getting there!!

Julie 

----Original Message----
From: john.e.bergin at ntlworld.com
Date: 15-May-2007 15:49
To: "senco forum"<senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk>
Subj: Re: [senco-forum] access arrangements

I must put my vociferous "cheat's" hat on
and join in please.....

 (Sharon)...
>>>agree with Ruth.  <<<

(Ruth)
>>>To be frank - I wonder how <<<
>>>those students are surviving <<<
>>>in a classroom <<<

(Elizabeth)
>>>many of their teachers feel that<<<
>>>they no longer need a reader<<<
>>> and are coping adequately with exams.<<<

 >>> Many of our parents are quite vociferous.<<<

I bought (many) a psychologist's report and recommendations
that were not contested but merely used as the submitted
evidence for my highly literate dyslexic daughter....never has needed 
a 
reader but "time", yes. Yet teacher testing didn't pick her up from 
age 10 
onwards as needing anything.

It was incredibly reassuring
at assessment time for DSA that the first words to this
over-anxious and too-articulate parent was "has she got the
time allowance for A2s?" before going on to the matter of DSA.

I have heard of Y11, reader removed; Y12, reader returned
..... my re-action was incredulous laughter. That parent was sure 
vociferous 
post hoc. I would have thrown the metaphorical nuke hand grenade in 
that 
situation, believe me, 81mm mortar be-blowed.

Does it all stem from being a reading problem .....cured, fixed, 
teached  - 
undisabled? From a parental viewpoint it feels like being cheated of 
support.

Peace be with you....  John, retired.

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