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Some
Background History
The Disabled Student Allowances SpLD
Working Group was convened to clarify what would constitute acceptable evidence
of SpLD in order to qualify for the Disabled Student Allowances (DSA). Set up
in 2003 to review the arrangements for identifying and assessing SpLDs in higher
education students, the group was asked to produce a report recommending a
framework for ensuring the quality of assessments which diagnose specific
learning difficulties. The report was intended to be a guide for those assessing
SpLD in Higher Education students and a statement of what is considered to be
an acceptable standard expected from those carrying out assessments.
The final report of this Working Group
was released on 27 July 2005. [Click links on the side of this page for the
Final Report].
The overall aims of the Working Group were:
§ to provide an equitable DSA system that is
simple to administer, enabling quicker and easier access for the student
customer
§ to establish evidential requirements that
LEAs could confidently regard as providing a reliable professional judgement
that a student has SpLDs
§ to provide a DSA system that is giving
value for money.
The following
functions were identified as priorities:
1. to identify a selection of tests that can
be used by appropriately trained and qualified professionals
2. to arrange for the list of recommended
tests to be updated by an appropriate body
3. to propose ways of enabling those with
appropriate qualifications to obtain and maintain the skills and expertise in
administering and interpreting the tests
4. to propose standards and a code of practice
for all those involved in assessments including the production of reports in an
agreed and accessible format
5. to produce clearer guidance for Awards
Officers and students in order to minimise local variances
6. to provide advice about identifying,
assessing and referring students with any of the named SpLDs
7. to provide some advice on dealing with
complex and borderline cases, including those where English is an additional
language.
It was agreed that for the purpose of this group SpLD should include the
following:
§ Dyslexia
§ Dyspraxia, Developmental Co-ordination
Disorder (DCD)
§ Dyscalculia
§ Attention Deficit Disorder
The SpLD Assessment Standards Committee,
SASC was founded from various subcommittees as a not-for-profit company in
February 2008. SASC works to support implementation and updating guidance under
the framework. The Memorandum and Articles of Association are downloadable from this page.
History of introduction:
The recommendations of the new
framework were gradually introduced over a three year period as follows:
- SpLD assessments conducted after the start of academic year 2006/07
should use the report format and tests recommended in the report;
- SpLD assessments conducted after the start of academic year 2007/08
should be accepted from Psychologists and suitably qualified Teachers
holding a current Practising Certificate in SpLD assessments issued by
their professional association; and
- from academic year 2008/09 all training for assessing SpLDs should
follow the report recommendations.
So the first
recommendations were implemented at the start of the academic year 2006/7.
Until the start of academic year
2006/07, Local Education Authorities were requested to continue following the existing guidelines as
contained in the 2005/06 DfES guidance chapter ‘DSAs'. DirectorsLynn Greenwold (Chair) - Independent
Julia Kender (Hon Treasurer) - Independent
Gillian Ashley - representing BDA
Lia Castiglione - Independent
Helen Duncan - Independent
Caroline Holden - Independent
Nicola James - Independent
Katherine Kindersley - Independent
Jennifer McDermott - representing Patoss
Rachael McMullen - representing Helen Arkell Centre
Anna Smith - representing RealGroup/DyslexiaAction
Mark Turner - Independent
Jane Warren - representing ADSHE Observers: Hanna Farndon (BPS), Denise Thornton (ACHIPP), Sarah Bevan (Patoss APC Team), Lynn Lovell (BDA APC Team)
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