Reasonable Adjustment Policy
Centre: ACLAS Global International Education Group
Effective: 2025-07-05 | Review Date: 2026-07-05
Policy Owner: Centre Quality Lead
1. Purpose
This policy ensures that learners with a disability, long-term health condition, learning difficulty, or other protected characteristic are not disadvantaged in accessing teaching, learning materials, or assessment. The Centre is committed to making reasonable adjustments that remove or reduce barriers without compromising the standards of the qualification.
2. What Is a Reasonable Adjustment?
A reasonable adjustment is an action, modification, or provision that reduces or removes a substantial disadvantage a learner would otherwise face. An adjustment is "reasonable" if it is practical for the Centre to implement and does not compromise the learning outcomes or assessment criteria of the qualification.
3. Examples of Adjustments
Assessment
- Additional time: typically 25% extra time for timed assessments
- Use of assistive technology (screen readers, speech-to-text software, magnification)
- Alternative formats for assessment materials (large print, coloured paper, accessible digital formats)
- Rest breaks during assessments
- A separate, quiet assessment room (for any face-to-face assessments)
- Submission in an alternative format (e.g., oral recording instead of written essay, where the assessment criteria allow)
Learning
- Accessible course materials on Moodle, compatible with assistive technologies
- Transcripts or captions for video content
- Extended access to resources
- Additional one-to-one tutorial support
4. Requesting an Adjustment
1. The learner notifies the Centre of their need as early as possible—ideally at enrolment or at least 4 weeks before the relevant assessment.
2. The learner completes a Reasonable Adjustment Request Form and provides supporting evidence, such as a medical report, a psychological or educational assessment, or a letter from a qualified professional.
3. The request is submitted to the Centre Quality Lead ([email protected]).
5. Assessment of the Request
1. The Centre Quality Lead reviews the request within 10 working days.
2. In assessing the request, the Centre considers:
- The nature of the learner's condition or difficulty
- The specific assessment criteria and learning outcomes
- Whether the requested adjustment is practical and reasonable
- Whether the adjustment would give the learner an unfair advantage or compromise the qualification standard
- Any relevant OTHM guidance
3. The Centre may consult the learner, the Assessor, and/or an external specialist.
6. Decision
1. The learner receives a written decision within 10 working days of the assessment.
2. If the adjustment is agreed, it is documented in the learner's assessment plan and communicated to relevant staff on a need-to-know basis.
3. If the adjustment is not agreed, or an alternative is proposed, the Centre explains the reasons. The learner may appeal through the Appeals Policy.
7. Confidentiality
Information about a learner's disability, condition, or need is treated confidentially. It is shared only with staff who need to know to implement the adjustment, with the learner's consent.
8. OTHM Notification
Where an adjustment may affect the conditions under which an assessment is conducted (e.g., modified assessment materials), the Centre consults OTHM's guidance and notifies OTHM where required.
9. Record Keeping
Records of all requests, decisions, and implemented adjustments are retained for a minimum of 3 years.
10. Policy Review
This policy is reviewed annually.
Approved by: ______________________ (Centre Director)
Date: ______________________