What Support is Available in Exams for Blind and Partially Sighted Students?

From primary tosecondary school,students are expected to take part in formal exams such as Year 6 SATs and GCSEs. Knowing what support can be put in place for these exams can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially as each stage of exams may have a slightly different process. In this guide, we break down what support can be put in place for exams and how to ensure things run smoothly. 

This guide is aimed at parents or carers, however if you are a student and would like to know more about what support is available in exams this is still a handy way to find out more! We also have a range of resources written for students on primary andsecondaryschool which you can check out.

Access Arrangements

You may have heard of the term “Access Arrangements” when it comes to exams. This is the arrangements put in place for the exams ahead of time. In most cases, the Exam Officer at the school or college will work with the student and specialist professionals, such as aQTVI,to ensure the right access arrangements are put in place by the exam board.  

Typical access arrangements might include: 

• Extra time ranging from 25% to 100% 

• Modified papers or braille papers 

• A practical support assistant 

• Technology like a laptop with a magnifier or screen reader 

• An amanuensis (scribe/reader/prompter) 

• Rest breaks 

For further information on what access arrangements can be requested, RNIB has a range of usefulguides and checklistswe’d recommend reading. 

Normal Ways of Working 

The term “normal ways of working” is often used when talking about putting access arrangements in place. This means that arrangements are only put in place if it is the student’s normal practise in their day-to-day classroom activities and mock exams. As part of the application process for access agreements, the exam officer will put evidence together to submit to the exam board which shows how a student normally works. It is important, therefore, that there is lots of opportunity to practise with the arrangements in place in an informal way.  

Top tip!

If you think your child may need different arrangements in their exams to how they are currently working, it is important to speak with the school’s SENCO about this before the exam. This will help your child to become confident with any new arrangements, as well as give opportunities to collect new evidence. 

Below we have listed the tests you can expect at different stages of primary and secondary school and what you need to know about them:

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Test

TheMultiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a short online test for all Year 4 pupils in England which takes place in June. It helps teachers see how well children know their times tables up to 12 × 12. As the test is online, access arrangements can be put in place for students such as audio options or a reader to read questions out loud. The school SENCOor class teacher is the best person to speak to about arrangements if they are needed.

For further information on access arrangements, you can read theMTC’s guide for parents.

Year 6 SATs

Access arrangements for year 6 SATS are arranged by the school. Schools must make an application to theStandards and Testing Agency(STA) to request permission in advance for some arrangements such as extra time, use of a word processer, a scribe/reader or early opening of the exam paper (for the school to adapt the paper). 

A word processor/screen reader can be used for the Maths and English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests. However, for the English reading paper it cannot be used, therefore if you are concerned your child might have difficulty accessing this, it is important to speak with the school.  

Top tip!

Whilst your child may have received 100% extra time in Year 6 SAT exams, this does not automatically qualify them for 100% extra time for mock exams or GCSEs. It is therefore important to make sure conversations with the school and your child’s QTVI take place throughout Secondary School about access arrangements for exams.  

GCSEs

Access arrangements for GCSEs are arranged by the school though the Exams Officer andSENCO, If your child has a QTVI,they will help inform what arrangements needs to be put in place by sharing information and evidence of your child’s “normal way of working”. The school will then submit this evidence as part of the exam board’s online application to be approved. 

It’s important to remember, schools need to submit access arrangements far in advance of the GCSE exams themselves and therefore, if you or your child would like any changes to their access arrangements, discuss these as soon as possible. 

Have further questions about GCSEs? Disability Rights UK have a useful FAQs guide with further information including access arrangements if your child is a private candidate or visiting an exam centre.   

What Next?

If you are in college, sixth form or doing an apprenticeship, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you! We recommend reading ourguides to find out more information about exams and assignments in this next stage of education. 

Alternatively, if you are a parent or carer of a student in primary or secondary school and would like further advice on exam arrangements for your child, you can contact our Education Information, Advice and Guidance Serviceoneducation.advice@pocklington.org.uk or call us on 0203 757 8040. 

These guides have been created with our partner Guide Dogs, you can read more about the partnership on our news page.