A User’s Guide to Manual Note-taking…
What is Manual Note-taking?
Students may request the service of manual note-taking in their lectures, seminars or
tutorials. This may be to ensure they can pay full attention to the lecturer or watch an
interpreter without having to take notes simultaneously. The support must be identified in
the students Assessment of Need Report and is subject to agreed funding.
Demand for note-takers is high, therefore, Access SUMMIT cannot guarantee that every
request will be fulfilled. We ask each student to provide their timetable as soon as possible,
this gives support co-ordinators more time to source and book a note-taker. Unfortunately,
in some cases, it may not be possible to cove all your sessions.
Many of our note-takers will have experience working in Higher Education and some may
have experience in your subject. For continuity, we will attempt to book the same notetakers for your sessions. Due to the timetabe you are given and the note-takers availability
this may not always be possible.
What is the job of a manual note-taker?
The manual note-taker is expected to handwrite information from the lecture, this will be in
note-form (using bullet points, key words, recording important references etc) rather than a
full account (verbatim) of every word spoken. The note-taker would provide notes at the
end of the session.
Note-takers will not make comments on the lecture, help students understand their
coursework, mediate between students and lecturers or be involved in group activites in
seminars.
All note-takers are obliged to follow a code of conduct. This stipulates that they must
remain impartial; not give personal advice or opinion; treat as confidential anything to
which they are party and not use information gained in the course of their work to benefit
themselves (E.g. gain a certificate for a course in which they have written notes).
Manual note-takers in lectures / seminars
If there are materials available in advance (E.g. lecture notes, hand outs, glossary of terms),
it is useful to provide these to the note-taker prior to the lecture.
Manual note-takers will sit at the front of the class unless the student would prefer to sit
elsewhere. The student will make the decision whether they wish to sit beside the notetaker.
At the beginning of each session you need to ensure the note-taker is aware of your arrival.
After each session the note-taker will submit an electronic timesheet which will be sent to
your email address OR via text, you need to confirm the attendance of your note-taker to
ensure payment is made for the service.
*Please note: Note-takers are booked for the duration of your session and it is most likely
they will have sessions directly after your own. If your session runs over the note-taker
may have to leave in order to get to the next booked session*
What do I have to do?
Please provide your timetable to Access SUMMIT as soon as possible. You need to inform
Access SUMMIT with ALL changes to your timetable. You also need to provide paper as you
would if you were taking your own notes.
What happens if I am ill?
You need to let your note-taker know when you are ill. If you don’t arrive at a lecture the
note-taker will wait for 20 minutes only and then leave. A note-taker is unable to take notes
in your absence. If the note-taker has not received 24 hours notice they will still be paid for
the duration of the session. You would receive an email / text to verify as normal.
What happens if a note-taker is ill?
The note-taker is expected to inform Access SUMMIT as soon as possible, we will try our
best to replace the note-taker for you.
What happens if I am late?
If you arrive late, let the note-taker know of your arrival. If this is over 20 minutes the notetaker will have already left the session.
What happens if the lecture is cancelled?
If your lecture is cancelled please notify your note-taker. If this is less than 24 hours notice
the note-taker will still be paid.
What happens if I don’t turn up?
You need to let your note-taker know if you are not going to attend a session. We also need
to provide the funding body with the reason for your non-attendance. Funding bodies can
refuse to pay if no reason is provided, several cancellations can also lead to severance of
funding resulting in withdrawal of support.
How much support do I get and how can it be used?
You will have a specified number of hours for note-taking support. This would be discussed
within your Assessment of Needs appointment and confirmation of this will be contained in
your approval letter from the funding body.
Many students receive note-taking support within lectures but not in tutorials or seminars.
This will also be determined during your assessment.
If you feel you need more hours or a different type of support to that which has been
agreed, please contact your disability advisor at your university.
What if I have any problems with my support?
We hope you enjoy a productive and supportive relationship with your note-taker at Access
SUMMIT. However, if you do have any problems / concerns please feel free to contact the
office using the details below:
Support@access-summit.org.uk
Tel: 0161 275 0987