BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Reg. Charity No 292 786
ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT POLICY FOR
CANDIDATES REQUIRING REASONABLE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR BCS QUALIFICATIONS
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CONTENTS.
ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT POLICY STATEMENT. .................................... 3
CANDIDATES WHO MAY REQUIRE REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS. ....... 3
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDE: .................................................. 4
DETAILS OF REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS .............................................. 5
GUIDANCE TO APPROVED CENTRES ON THE PROVISION OF
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS. ................................................................... 9
PROCEDURES FOR CENTRES WHICH APPLY TO BCS REQUESTING
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS FOR CANDIDATES. ................................ 12
PROCEDURES FOR CENTRES WHICH HAVE PERMISSION TO APPROVE
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS FOR CANDIDATES. ................................ 16
APPENDIX A PERMISSIONS TABLE ......................................................... 17
APPENDIX B ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT REQUEST FORM ................... 19
MONITORING FORM .................................................................................... 21
APPENDIX C ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FORM ........... 22
MONITORING FORM .................................................................................... 25
APPENDIX D CONFIRMATION OF ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT FORM .. 26
APPENDIX E DISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY .............................. 27
APPENDIX F SAMPLE CONSENT FORM TO PASS ON INFORMATION . 28
APPENDIX G TUTOR GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATIONS WHERE
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS ARE APPROVED BY THE CENTRE ....... 29
APPENDIX H GLOSSARY OF TERMS ....................................................... 31
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Access to Assessment Policy Statement.
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, seeks to provide equal access to
assessment for all candidates, ensuring that there are no unnecessary
barriers to assessment and that any reasonable adjustments for candidates
preserve the validity, reliability and integrity of the qualification.
BCS will consider requests from Centres for reasonable adjustments to be
approved for a candidate. The decision will be based on the individual needs
of the candidate as assessed by suitably qualified professionals. In promoting
this policy, BCS aims to ensure that a candidate is not disadvantaged in
relation to other candidates and their certificate accurately reflects their
attainment.
Candidates who may require reasonable adjustments.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA),1995, defines disability as a physical
or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on
a person’s ability to perform normal day-to-day activities. The following
individuals will be considered for reasonable adjustments:
Candidates who have:

A permanent physical impairment, e.g. cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis

Behavioural, emotional, social needs, e.g. chronic depression, autism

A sensory impairment, e.g. hard of hearing

Specific learning difficulties, e.g. dyslexia
This list is not exhaustive and it should be noted that some candidates may be
covered by more than one of the categories listed above.
Although these matters are not covered directly by the DDA, we also wish to
accommodate candidates:

For whom English is their second or additional language

Who have a temporary illness or injury
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Reasonable adjustments include:

Allocation of additional time

Support of a reader

Support of a scribe/amanuensis

Support of a British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreter

Support of a personal assistant

Support of a prompter

Use of assistive technology

Rest breaks

Change in the assessment room

Use of appropriate assessment locations

Use of a bilingual dictionary

Re –sits (in the case of temporary illness /injury)
In some cases awarding bodies may permit an Approved Centre to
implement reasonable adjustments without seeking prior permission
from the awarding body. This will depend on the specific BCS
qualification and the nature of the assessment system.
Please refer to Appendix A: Permissions Table.
______________________________________________
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Details of Reasonable Adjustments
Allocation of Additional Time.
All applications for additional time will be individually considered. The
‘standard’ time extension that BCS approves for assessments, based on
ECDL Foundation qualifications, is 33% (e.g. 15 minutes in the case of ECDL
Parts 1 and 2) but extensions up to an extra 100% can be approved
depending on the nature of the candidate’s disability and the reasonable
adjustments that are required.
Some of our more recent qualifications which lie outside the field of influence
of the Foundation will follow the UK guidelines and a standard time extension
of 25% will apply.
Support of a Reader.
A reader is defined as a person who will read to the candidate any part of the
assessment materials or any part of the candidate’s answers. Candidates who
have difficulty in reading and understanding complex English may require the
support of a reader.
Support of a Scribe/Amanuensis.
A scribe is someone who writes down a candidate’s dictated answers to
questions. Such support may be required by candidates who have a physical
impairment, a visual impairment or a specific learning difficulty. A scribe is not
permitted in an assessment requiring keyboard skills such as the application
modules in the ECDL qualification.
Support of a British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreter for Hearing
Impaired Candidates.
The role of the interpreter is to converse when asked to do so by the
candidate, to ensure that the candidate has properly understood the
instructions and questions. The role may include saying the word or phrase,
rephrasing, using sign language, or the use of writing.
Support of a Personal Assistant.
Some candidates may require someone for help with personal assistance
during the assessment. The personal assistant may assist, e.g. by turning the
pages of the question paper. A practical assistant is a person who, during an
assessment, carries out practical tasks at the instruction of the candidate. A
practical assistant will not normally be allowed in those parts of a qualification
where the practical skill is the focus of the assessment.
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Support of a Prompter.
Candidates with severe attention problems may benefit from the use of a
prompter in timed assessment situations to draw their attention back to the
assessment task.
Use of Assistive Technology.
Where possible the candidate should use their own equipment. Such
equipment should be verified by the Approved Centre in order to ensure there
is no hidden information or access to information.
If their own equipment cannot be used, assistive technology which mirrors that
of the candidate ought to be provided. The list below is indicative of the most
common assistive technologies currently available. It is to be taken as a
guideline only.
Hardware

Alternative keyboards and mice, including:
Keyboards with Braille labelled keyboards or home-row key
indicators
Joysticks/trackerballs/rollerballs/mouse keys on keyboard
Mouth stick

Braille display

Switches (alternative input to keyboard and mouse, used by individuals
with physical disability)

Large monitors

Headphones and volume adjustment for use with voice output/input
software packages
Software

Operating System Accessibility features such as Sticky Keys, Filter
Keys, Mouse speed adjustments, etc

Screen magnification software

Screen reading software (supporting users with a visual impairment or
dyslexia)

Voice recognition software
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Use of bi-lingual dictionaries and translators.
Bi-lingual dictionaries may be allowed for candidates whose first language is
not English.
Change in the Assessment Room.
Minor changes to the organisation of the assessment room may benefit some
candidates with autistic spectrum disorder, with visual or hearing impairment
or with physical difficulties. For example:

Autistic candidates may benefit from having visual/noise stimuli, such
as a ticking clock, removed from the room.

Visually impaired candidates may benefit from sitting near a window so
that they have good lighting.

Hearing impaired candidates may benefit from being seated near the
front of the room.

Some candidates may benefit from using chairs with arm rests or
adjustable heights.
Use of appropriate assessment locations.
A Centre may offer assessments at other locations that meet the requirements
set out in this manual, e.g. assessments may be conducted at a client’s site.
Centres can only operate in this way for a maximum of six months. If more
than six months is required the location must be registered as a Satellite Site.
Members of Approved Centre staff must conduct the assessments and must
be registered with BCS.
Working in Clients Homes
Whereas visiting candidates or clients in their own home is highly likely not to
incur any risks, there are health and safety elements which should be
considered before Centre staff go off-site to work with individuals outside of
the normal working environment.
Any Centre wishing to offer off-site assessments must download and
complete the ‘Off site Assessment Form’ from the Approved Centre Forum
and make it available for inspection at audit. Do not post the form to BCS.
This form needs to be completed on each occasion an assessment takes
place and exam conditions must be adhered to at all times. The Centre must
also complete the Access to Assessment online request form to apply for offsite testing and submit it to BCS Qualifications.
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Rest breaks.
Some candidates who may be disadvantaged by specific set times may
require breaks. BCS will consider requests for rest breaks, the duration of
which will not be deducted from the assessment time.
Breaks during an assessment must be supervised and the duration of the
break agreed with the assessment invigilator. The candidate must not discuss
the assessment with any third party during a break period, nor refer to books
or any other source of help.
Other reasonable adjustments.
The reasonable adjustments listed above are not intended to be
comprehensive. Others will be considered in line with the BCS Qualifications
‘Access to Assessment Policy Statement’.
______________________________________________________________
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Guidance to Approved Centres on the provision of reasonable
adjustments.
Refer to the Permissions Table in Appendix A for guidance as to whether a
Centre should contact BCS regarding access to assessment arrangements. If
in doubt, please contact BCS Qualifications via a2a@hq.bcs.org.uk or
telephone 01793 417571.
Strict guidelines during the assessment process must be maintained. For
example:

Arrangements for the appointment and use of third party support, e.g. a
scribe or a British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreter, will be the
responsibility of the Centre Manager.

It is the responsibility of the Centre Manager to ensure the use of third
party support does not give the candidate an unfair advantage or
indeed disadvantage the candidate.

The third party support should not normally be the candidate’s own
tutor, except in circumstances where it is necessary to do so. In such
cases, BCS should be specifically consulted. On no account may a
relative, friend or peer of the candidate be used. In fairness to the
candidate, the support person should have had practice working with
the candidate in preparation for the assessment.

The reader should only read the exact wording (instructions and
questions), and not give meanings of words, rephrase or interpret
anything. The reader should only repeat instructions and questions on
the paper when specifically requested to do so by the candidate. The
reader should not advise the candidate which questions to do, when to
move on to the next question, or the order in which the questions
should be answered.

The British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreter must be a
qualified teacher of the deaf or be appointed by a qualified teacher of
the deaf. The interpreter should have a good working knowledge of the
content of the assessment. The centre should ensure that the
interpreter has access to the assessment material in advance of the
assessment, to prepare for the signing. Care must be taken not to
indicate the meaning of technical words in cases where the candidate’s
understanding of these words is inherent in the purpose of the
question. The interpretation should not explain or clarify. In some
instances it may be more appropriate to finger-spell a word.
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
A scribe/amanuensis must write down answers exactly as they are
dictated by the candidate. The scribe should not advise the candidate
which questions to do, when to move on to the next question, or the
order in which the questions should be answered.

For a candidate requiring a scribe and a reader, the same person may
act as both, provided permission has been given for both.

A candidate using a reader, scribe or British Sign Language
(BSL)/English interpreter must be accommodated separately to avoid
disturbing other candidates. The Centre Manager will have to use their
discretion in the case of a personal assistant or prompter.

A separate invigilator must be present when any third party support,
e.g. a reader, is used.

The Centre must document the name of the reader, scribe or
interpreter with the candidate’s archived test material for audit
purposes.

Any assistive technology used by a candidate must have been
approved by BCS for the individual candidate’s needs. The computer
must only be used, during the assessment, by the candidate and not by
a third party supporting the candidate.

BCS recognises that candidates whose first language is not English are
eligible for reasonable adjustments. If a candidate has been in the UK
for less than two years, the supporting evidence should take the form of
a report from the Centre Manager that confirms that the candidate has
been in the country for less than two years and includes information
about the necessary support that the candidate has required during the
training programme and mock exam. If a candidate has been in the UK
for more than two years, the supporting evidence must include a report
from a learning support/basics skills specialist. Please ensure that the
name and status of the specialist is included in the 'Reasons' section in
the Access to Assessment online request form. The Centre will need to
renew the application when 12 months have elapsed since the first
assessment. As well as extra time of up to 33%, we can approve a
bilingual dictionary. This applies whether the candidate has been in the
UK for more than two years or less than two years.
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
BCS does not give access to the international versions of ECDL
assessments and does not permit staff at an Approved Centre to
translate the assessment material into another language.

The Centre Manager must ensure that the assessment location and
facilities, used by candidates with a particular assessment need, meet
the requirements of the candidate. If the assessment location needs to
accommodate a third party support, distances between candidates
must be considered.

The invigilator must have prior information of any candidate’s
reasonable adjustments and the name and remit of any third party
support that has been approved by BCS.

There is a broad range of learning difficulties and some of the
implications such as speed of processing and organisation of ideas are
not obvious. Therefore, BCS requires candidates to be assessed by a
suitably qualified person to ensure that the access arrangements for
the candidate are appropriate. The Centre Manager must arrange for
the candidate to be assessed by a qualified psychologist or specialist
teacher. The Centre Manager must take reasonable steps to satisfy
themselves that the teacher assessing the candidate’s needs has the
required level of competence. The online submission form requires the
Centre Manager to provide the name and professional qualifications of
the person who has carried out the assessment of the candidate.

The use of a practical assistant should not modify the specification
requirements. For example, the manipulation of apparatus or making
accurate visual observations may be the skill being assessed and in
these cases the use of a practical assistant will not be permitted.
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Procedures for Centres which apply to BCS requesting
Reasonable Adjustments for candidates.
Access to Assessment Request Form.
When applying for reasonable adjustments, we expect that the request from
the Approved Centre is based on the candidate's "usual way of working", for
which there would have to be some evidence.
Requests for reasonable adjustments must be made by the Centre Manager,
or a nominated member of staff, by completing the online version of the
Access to Assessment Request Form. The online form can be located using
the Access to Assessment link on the Approved Centre Forum homepage. If
you have technical problems submitting the online form, please contact BCS
via qualifications@hq.bcs.org.uk quoting your Approved Centre name and ID.
In exceptional cases, BCS will allow centres to use Appendix B, the paper
based alternative.
Information about the physical or mental health or condition of a person is
'sensitive personal data'. The Approved Centre is required by the Data
Protection Act to take additional precautions when dealing with such data and
it must not be sent to BCS by fax. Advice on this issue is to be found in
Appendix E. In all cases the information and/or supporting evidence should
only be sent to BCS if the Approved Centre has the candidate’s written
consent. An example of a consent form is found in Appendix F. A copy of the
consent form should be retained at the Approved Centre for audit purposes.
Before an Access to Assessment Request Form is submitted, BCS would
expect the following criteria have been met:

The Approved Centre has registered the candidate with BCS

The candidate has completed a training programme

The candidate has attempted a mock/sample assessment arranged by
the Approved Centre
Please note that if the amount of extra time is above 33% (e.g. more than 15
minutes), the Approved Centre should specify the extra time required (up to a
limit of 100%) using the objective evidence provided by the candidate’s
experiences in a mock/sample assessment.
We recommend that the online form is submitted at least 10 working days
before the date of the first assessment. At this stage supporting evidence
does not need to be sent. The details on the online form will be processed, a
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decision will be made and the Centre Manager will be notified by email. In
some cases, BCS will require supporting evidence before a final decision can
be made.
Supporting Evidence.
When the implications are clear, e.g. candidates who are registered as blind
or partially sighted, candidates with physical difficulties or a profound hearing
impairment, a statement from the Approved Centre is sufficient. The Centre
does not need to provide further evidence such as a medical note from a GP.
Where the implications of the disability or difficulty are not obvious, BCS will
expect Centres to have supporting evidence regarding the effect of the
impairment on the candidate’s performance in an exam. This would cover
requests regarding issues such as:

A specific learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, or

Candidates for whom English is a second or additional language, or

A temporary illness or injury
If supporting evidence is required before a final decision can be made, we will
inform Approved Centres by email. The supporting evidence (if authorised by
the candidate), should be sent by post to:
BCS Qualifications
Access to Assessment Department
Block D, North Star House
North Star Ave
SWINDON, SN2 1FA
The letter should be labelled as ‘Strictly Private and Confidential’.
Alternatively, it can be sent as an email attachment to
qualifications@hq.bcs.org.uk. Please ensure that the attachment is sent as a
zip file with password protection.
Which forms of supporting evidence will be acceptable?

Written evidence of assessments of the candidate’s needs made within
the Approved Centre by relevant staff with competence and
responsibility in this area. This could include learning support staff,
teaching staff, trainers, assessors and other specialist staff. Information
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from previous Approved Centres attended by the candidate may also
be used.

History of provision within the Approved Centre. This should include
information about the support received by the candidate during the
learning or training programme and during formative assessments.

Written evidence of assessments done by independent, authoritative,
external specialists. This can take the form of a report or assessment
from a health professional, educational psychologist or other
appropriate specialist. These reports/assessments should state the
name, title and professional credentials of the person who carried out
the tests and wrote the report. The report should set out the nature of
the difficulty and the extent to which the candidate is affected by the
difficulty; including the effects of any medication that the candidate may
be taking. In cases where there could be significant improvements in
the way the candidate is affected by the difficulty, the assessments and
consultations should have been carried out within the preceding two
years by an independent expert.

A letter from another awarding body.
The Approved Centre should decide which of the above forms of evidence will
best assist an understanding of the candidate’s requirements. It should be
noted that it is the Approved Centre’s responsibility to authenticate the
candidate’s need for assistance. We would expect that the evidence includes
reference to the candidate’s experiences with a mock /sample assessment.
In the case of e-Citizen candidates, it is sufficient to use written evidence of
assessments made by relevant Approved Centre staff such as learning
support staff and teaching staff.
What should be sent to BCS?
BCS will be expecting supporting evidence in the form of
either a report from:
the Approved Centre, or
a health professional/ educational psychologist/ specialist
or
the Confirmation of Access to Assessment Form. This is found in Appendix D
and can also be downloaded from the link to the Access to Assessment Form
on the Approved Centre Forum homepage. It can be used by a member of the
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Approved Centre staff or the independent expert to summarise their
supporting evidence, and is then countersigned by the Centre Manager,
or
a letter from another awarding body.
BCS will process the supporting evidence and notify the Centre Manager of
the decision by email. The request must be approved before the candidate
sits the assessment. The Centre Manager should retain a copy of the
supporting evidence documentation at the Approved Centre until the audit visit
after the candidate completes the qualification or leaves the Approved Centre.
The External Verifier may request to see this evidence (with the candidate’s
permission) as part of the annual audit.
Enquiries about any aspect of the Access to Assessment policy should be
made to the Access to Assessment team via qualifications@hq.bcs.org.uk or
telephone 01793 417530.
Confidentiality.
Approved Centres and BCS will keep in confidence all correspondence and
documentation it receives, as stated within the Approved Centre Contract.
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Procedures for Centres which have permission to approve
Reasonable Adjustments for candidates.
Access to Assessment Information Form.
BCS Qualifications has introduced qualifications such as Digital Cre8or in
which the assessment criteria are assessed using evidence and portfolio
material. Instead of seeking prior approval from BCS, the Centre has
permission to approve reasonable adjustments on behalf of the candidate.
For such qualifications, the Centre staff must use the Access to Assessment
Form in Appendix C. It must be completed on behalf of each candidate at the
start of the course and updated as necessary during the candidate’s course of
study. Both this form and the Monitoring Form must be retained by the Centre
and made available for audit purposes.
Centre staff should use this form to record:

details of reasonable adjustments approved by the Centre

any assessment task or part of a task that is completed by the tutor
because the candidate was unable to carry it out themselves
Centre staff should also refer to Appendix G for guidelines on how course
tutors can support candidates who attempt theory and practical assessments.
Centres must retain a copy of this form and the relevant supporting evidence,
and make them available to awarding body personnel upon request.
Enquiries about any aspect of these procedures should be made to the
Access to Assessment team via qualifications@hq.bcs.org.uk or telephone
01793 417530. Centres should not contact External Verifiers (EVs) for advice.
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APPENDIX A
PERMISSIONS TABLE
Key:
A. Apply to the awarding body for permission
B. Reasonable adjustment permitted at the discretion of the
Centre**
Reasonable Adjustment
Assessments
which are
taken under
examination
conditions – to
include ECDL,
e-Citizen.
Extra time up to 25% (33% for
ECDL F qualifications)
Extra time in excess of 25%
(33% for ECDL F qualifications)
Supervised rest breaks
Change in the organisation of
assessment room
Separate accommodation
within the centre
Taking the assessment at an
alternative venue
Use of coloured overlays, low
vision aids, tinted spectacles,
CCTV, OCR scanners and
amplification equipment
Use of assistive software
Use of bilingual and bilingual
translation dictionaries
Assessment material in
enlarged format
Assessment material in Braille
Language modified assessment
material
Assessment material in BSL
Assessment material on
coloured paper
Assessment material in audio
format
A
Other
qualifications
where
assessments
are not taken
under
examination
conditions – to
include Digital
Cre8or, ITQ.
N/A
A
N/A
A
A
N/A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
B
A
B*
A
A
B*
B*
A
A
B*
B
A
B*
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Use of ICT
Responses using electronic
devices
Responses in BSL
Responses in Braille
Reader
Scribe
BSL/ English interpreter
Prompter
Practical assistant
Transcriber
N/A
N/A
N/A
B**
N/A
N/A
A
A
A
A
A
N/A
B**
B**
B
B
B
B
A
N/A
Further Notes
* You do not need to apply to BCS for approval to produce internal
assessment material in Large Print, Braille, audio or sign to the candidate, so
long as it does not invalidate the assessment criteria.
** A candidate should be provided with the means to present their responses
by a method most appropriate and familiar to them, so long as it does not
invalidate the assessment criteria or the integrity of the qualification. For
example:

An audio response cannot be used if the assessment requirement is to
produce visual material.

The person doing the BSL/English translation must be suitably qualified
and the BSL responses must be accompanied by an authenticated
translation into English which is stored for audit purposes.

The Braille response must be accompanied by an authenticated
transcript in English which is stored for audit purposes.
External Verifiers (EVs) are not to be consulted for permission for reasonable
adjustments to be applied.
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APPENDIX B
ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT REQUEST FORM
Where Centres apply to BCS for Reasonable Adjustments
Any information requested below and any documentation regarding the
need for reasonable adjustments in an assessment will be considered as
strictly confidential (as specified within the ‘Approved Centre Contract’)
and will not be shared without the candidate’s written consent.
Only use this paper based form if technical issues prevent a Centre from
using the online request form. The details below must be completed and
signed by the Centre Manager. Information on this form is used internally
within BCS only and will not be shown on the candidate's Log Book (or Skills
Card) or Certificate. The form must be returned to BCS (see address below)
and approved before the candidate sits the assessment. Please allow at least
10 working days before the date of the first assessment. If the appropriate
supporting evidence is not sent to BCS or held at the Approved Centre,
the candidate’s application cannot be accepted.
Name of qualification
Candidate Name
Candidate Log Book (Skills Card)/BCS
Candidate Registration ID
Centre Name
Centre I.D.
Centre Manager
Centre Manager e-mail Address
Centre Telephone Number
Date of first planned assessment
Manual assessment
On-line assessment
If on-line assessment, the name of the test
provider.
Additional time required:
- Up to 33% (e.g. 15 minutes).
- Above 33%.
- Amount of time required if above 33%.
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Details of the personal support, e.g. reader and /or assistive technology, e.g.
magnification software that is required:
1 …………………………………………………………….
2 …………………………………………………………….
3 …………………………………………………………….
4 …………………………………………………………….
Please indicate the form of evidence that supports the
candidate’s request:
- Approved Centre’s assessments of the candidate’s needs
- History of provision/support within the Centre
- Health professional/ed. psychologist report
- Confirmation of Access to Assessment form
- Letter from another awarding body granting reasonable
adjustments
- Other (please give details)
Please indicate if the supporting evidence:
- Will be sent to BCS, or
- Retained by the Centre
Signed: ……………………………………. Centre Manager
Date: …………………………….
Return to:
BCS Qualifications
Access to Assessment Department
Block D, North Star House
North Star Avenue
SWINDON, SN2 1FA
BCS QUALIFICATIONS USE ONLY
Approved By
Date of Approval
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MONITORING FORM
This part of the form will be kept separate from the rest of this document. It will
be used for monitoring purposes only. No personal details should be printed
on this page.
Type of Disability/ Difficulty
Physical
Behavioural, Emotional and Social
Sensory
Specific Learning Difficulty
English as a second or additional
language
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APPENDIX C
ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FORM
Where Centres have Permission to approve Reasonable
Adjustments for Candidates.
This document is an essential part of the candidate’s record of work. It
must be completed at the start of the course and updated as necessary
during the candidate’s course of study. Centres must not use the online
request form.
Any information requested below and any documentation regarding the
need for reasonable adjustments in an assessment will be considered as
strictly confidential (as specified within the ‘Approved Centre Contract’)
and will not be shared without the candidate’s written consent.
The details below must be completed and signed by the Centre Manager.
Information on this form is used internally within the Centre and will not be
shown on the candidate’s certificate. Both this form and the Monitoring Form
must be retained by the Centre and made available for audit purposes.
Name of Qualification
Candidate Name
BCS Candidate ID
Centre Name
Centre ID
Centre Manager (name)
Course Commencement Date ……
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Details of reasonable adjustments e.g. reader and/or assistive technology
such as magnification software, permitted by Centre. Refer to the
Permissions Table (Appendix A):
1. ………………………………………………………………………
2. ………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………
4. ……………………………………………………………………...
Details of help provided by tutor during an internal assessment. Please list
the assessment criteria where the task was carried out on behalf of the
candidate by the candidate’s tutor.
Assessment Criterion
(reference)
Name of Tutor
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Additional Comments
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Please indicate the form(s) of evidence presented supporting the
candidate’s request for reasonable adjustments:
- Health professional/Educational psychologist report
- Approved Centre’s assessment(s) of the candidate’s needs
- History of provision/support within the Centre
- Letter from another awarding body granting reasonable
adjustments
- Other (please give details).
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………….
Signed: (Centre
Manager)
Print Name:
Date:
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MONITORING FORM
This Monitoring Form and the forms on pages 1 and 2 must be retained
by the Centre and made available for audit purposes.
This part of the form must be kept separate from pages 1 and 2. It will be used
for monitoring purposes only. No personal details should be printed on this
page.
Type of Disability/ Difficulty
Physical
Behavioural, Emotional and Social
Sensory
Specific Learning Difficulty
English as a second or additional
language
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APPENDIX D
CONFIRMATION OF ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT FORM
I have known ______________________ (Candidate’s name) since
__________ (Date) in my capacity as _________________________ (Professional
title)
Additional time required:
- Up to 33% (e.g. 15 minutes).
- Above 33%.
- Amount of additional time required if above 33%.
……. Minutes.
Communication/Support, e.g. an interpreter, a reader, rest breaks:
Assistive Technology, e.g. screen reading software, ergonomic keyboard:
Centre Staff or Independent Expert.
Name (please print):
Professional title:
Signature:
Date:
Centre Manager.
Name (please print):
Signature:
Date:
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APPENDIX E
DISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY
In order to make adjustments, there is a duty on Approved Centres to take
reasonable steps to encourage candidates to disclose a disability. For
example, candidates should be encouraged to advise the appropriate person
of their disability at the point of registration for the qualification.
Once the information has been obtained, the Approved Centre is required by
law to process the data ‘fairly and lawfully’. This means that the candidate
must know what information the relevant organisation holds about them, what
they will do with it and to whom this information may be disclosed.
Information about whether or not someone is disabled should only be
available to those people who need to know in order to discharge the
Approved Centre’s responsibilities towards the candidate under the Disability
Discrimination Act.
BCS will not pass on in written form any sensitive information without the
candidate’s written consent.
Summary of Steps to take before passing on information
1. Obtain details of the candidate’s needs.
2. Keep a secure record of the details.
3. Advise the candidate to whom the information will be passed and for
what the information will be used.
4. Obtain the candidate’s written consent to pass on the information to the
relevant parties.
BCS will keep in confidence all correspondence and documentation received
in accordance with the Data Protection Act. The Disability Discrimination Act
identifies ‘sensitive personal data’ as a sub set of ‘personal data’ and this
includes any information relating to a candidate’s disability.
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APPENDIX F
SAMPLE CONSENT FORM TO PASS ON INFORMATION
Information about disability is classed as ‘sensitive personal data’ and will be
processed by the Approved Centre and BCS in accordance with the Data
Protection Act 1998.
The Approved Centre has a duty under the Disability Discrimination Act to
make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled candidates. In order to make
these adjustments, some information regarding your disability may have to be
disclosed to various relevant members of staff in the Approved Centre and/or
BCS, the awarding body for this qualification.
Detailed information about your impairments or medical information will not be
passed on unless it is deemed relevant to making reasonable adjustments.
You can request that no information about your disability is passed on to
others, or you can request that information is restricted to certain people.
However, you should be aware that if you do this, it could limit the types of
adjustments that the Approved Centre and/or BCS can make for you.
You should also be aware that even if you have asked for information about
your disability not to be passed on to other relevant staff at an Approved
Centre and/or BCS, there could be certain instances where this may still have
to be done for reasons of health and safety, emergency or public policy.
I consent to data regarding my disability to be passed on to relevant Approved
Centre staff and BCS (please circle):
Yes
No
Restricted
If you have circled ‘Restricted’, please indicate below to whom you consent to
information being passed:
………………………………………………………………………………..…………
Candidate Name………………………………………………………………………
Candidate Signature: ………………………………………………………….……..
Date: …………………………………………………………………………….……..
Centre Manager Signature: ………………………………………………………..
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APPENDIX G
Tutor Guidelines for Qualifications where Reasonable
Adjustments are approved by the Centre
Knowledge and Understanding assessments:
A scribe can be used to help a candidate respond to knowledge and
understanding assessments by, for example, typing or writing down their
responses. Responses must be transcribed verbatim by the scribe.
ICT/Physical practical assessments:

A personal assistant can provide support so long as it does not
invalidate the assessment specification. For example, they can indicate
to the candidate where a piece of equipment is found.

The use of a personal assistant must not modify the specification
requirements. For example, the manipulation of equipment (connecting
a microphone to a computer) or making accurate visual observations
(correct exposure and depth of field) may be the skill being assessed
and in these cases the use of a practical assistant will not be
permitted.

If a particular physical task cannot be demonstrated by a learner, this
should not preclude them from obtaining marks for other follow-on
tasks.

If an assessment task is made up of a number of individual steps, a
personal assistant can help a candidate to carry out a performance
task (although no credit can accrue) to enable them to attempt a
subsequent task that is within their capabilities.
Worked Example from Digital Cre8or:
A.7.1 Connect an input device to a computer, such as a midi keyboard.
Be able to successfully connect an input device – such as a midi keyboard –
to a computer, so that the device is recognised by a digital audio editing
program.
A.7.2 Play virtual instruments through computer software. Be able to play an
input device through a digital audio editing program, so that it can be
monitored.
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A.7.3 Record virtual instruments via computer software. Be able to
successfully record audio from an input device in a digital audio editing
program.
For A.7.1,
The tutor could confirm that the keyboard, computer and cables were
available on the table in front of the candidate.
The candidate would now be expected to connect successfully the midi
keyboard to the computer. It would not be permissible for the tutor to follow
the candidate’s instructions and connect the two devices on their behalf.
If the candidate was unable to successfully connect the midi keyboard to the
computer, the tutor can do it on behalf of the candidate (with the candidate
awarded no marks for this aspect). The candidate could still attempt the two
practical follow on tasks, A.7.2 and A.7.3.
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APPENDIX H
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Access to Assessment
The removal of artificial and unnecessary barriers
to the process of judging an individual’s
competence.
Assessment
The process of making judgments about the
extent to which a candidate’s work meets the
assessment criteria for a qualification, or part of a
qualification.
Assistive Technology
Mechanical or electronic devices which help
individuals with particular needs to overcome
these limitations.
A regular (at least annual) visit by one of our staff
to review and audit operations and procedures at
the Approved Centre and satellite sites.
Audit
BCS
British Sign Language
(BSL)/English
interpreter
Centre Manager
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT is the licensed
awarding body for a number of IT User
qualifications, such as ECDL, in the UK.
An individual who interprets communication into
and out of British Sign Language.
Nominated representative who is responsible for
the Approved Centre.
Disability
A physical or mental impairment which has a
substantial and long-term adverse effect on a
person’s ability to perform normal day-to-day
activities.
ECDL Foundation
The ECDL-F is the central governing body for the
ECDL internationally. The ECDL-F is responsible
for the syllabus, assessment and courseware
approval.
EV
See External Verifier.
External Verifier/Auditor Member of the BCS staff who is responsible for
visiting Approved Centres to review the quality of
qualification marking, administration and
management.
Internal Verification
The on-going process of ensuring that the quality
of training and assessing is maintained.
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Internal Verifier
A member of the Approved Centre staff who is
responsible for carrying out the internal
verification process.
Invigilator
A registered member of staff who is responsible
for the monitoring and invigilation of ECDL
certification assessments.
IV
See Internal Verifier.
Reader
A person who will read to the candidate any part
of the assessment materials or any part of the
candidate’s answers.
Reasonable
Adjustments
Arrangements which are approved in advance of
an examination or assessment to allow attainment
to be demonstrated by a candidate with
assessment - related needs.
A person who writes down a candidate’s dictated
answers to questions.
A secure web site for Approved Centre staff
http://www.ecdl.co.uk/tcforum.
Scribe
Test Centre Forum
Test Paper
Assessment instructions
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