This virtual conference is for anyone involved in the access arrangements process who wants to update their knowledge for the 2022/23 academic year. It assumes a working knowledge of the JCQ regulations (for our introductory course, please click here).

For those who would prefer face to face update training, we are running courses in Manchester and London, please click here for details.

For those who would prefer to access our pre-recorded video course at a date of their choosing, please click here.

For those who select the Morning Only option, Caroline Read and Lia Castiglione will present a live Update/Refresher for the JCQ regulations 2022/23, set in the context of the changes over the last few years and the regulations as a whole. There will also be the opportunity to take part in a live Q&A.

For those who select the Full Day, in addition to the Update/Refresher for Access Arrangements outlined above, there will be a wide range of seminars focussed on different aspects of the access arrangements process. These seminars (click the ‘What seminars will there be?’ tab below for more detail) will be available to delegates for 2 weeks before, and 2 weeks after the conference date. There will be live Q&A sessions on the conference day with the seminar speakers, and handouts available to download.

There will also be opportunities to network online with those in similar roles or settings, 1:1 appointments with our experts, and colleagues from awarding bodies and the JCQ as well as time to ask questions of publishers, suppliers and software developers.

Below is the outline of seminars planned for the Virtual Conference (Seminars with * are SASC-approved):

1. Dealing with Conflict (including communication with parents) – Lorraine Lee

The roles many professionals have in schools and colleges, often involve a level of conflict with others, which can be very draining for an already busy professional. In this session Lorraine will be examining strategies to navigate areas of conflict including communicating with difficult people or having difficult conversations with lovely people more successfully, particularly in the area of dealing with parents in relation to discussions about access arrangements.

2. Supporting Students who have experienced Trauma – Tory Barrow

Some students have experienced trauma in early life, and it can be challenging to know how to meet their needs. The influx of refugees from Afghanistan, Sudan and more recently Ukraine has increased the numbers of these students that we are seeking to support. In this seminar Tory will cover:

• Some of the causes of Developmental Trauma
• Behaviours and symptoms seen within school
• The implications for young people who have experienced Attachment Difficulties or Developmental Trauma
• Ways of working to support these young people

3. Further Education - access arrangements for awarding bodies other than the JCQ – Helen Unwin

Helen will examine the requirements of a range of awarding bodies and qualifications commonly used by Further Education Colleges and discusses some of the typical challenges faced by professionals working in the area of exam access arrangements in the FE setting.

4. Using Technology to Support Learners in Exams – Malcolm Litten

Malcolm will present the types of technology that a candidate can use in exams, when it can be used, with suggestions for specific software.

5. *Remote Assessment – Caroline Read and Lia Castiglione

This seminar will provide guidance for carrying out assessments for access arrangements over a live video call. This includes:

• tips on how to carry out remote assessment
• how to set up technology for yourself and your learner
• information about which tests are available digitally and how to use them
• practical checklists to make sure you have thought of everything
• links to further reading and research

6. *Extra Time Evidence Requirements – Caroline Read and Lia Castiglione

This session will present the JCQ requirements for candidates with learning difficulties to gain extra time, (including when a reading or writing speed score can be used) and will cover information about 172 assessment measures that can be used to assess for extra time in exams.

7. Conducting a review of a centre’s access arrangements processes and polices – Lia Castiglione

Lia has supported schools and colleges by conducting in depth reviews of policies and procedures, identifying areas of strength, and those that need improvement. In this session she will explain the process she uses, including consideration of:

• Access arrangements policy and word processor policy – content, audience, review process
• Evidence gathering for pupils requiring access arrangements
• Record keeping for inspection and internal purposes
• Communications with teaching staff, pupils and parents
• Resources, including assessment tools
• Referrals to external agencies

8. *TOMAL 2 – Lia Castiglione

This session will focus on how TOMAL2 can be used to gain assessment evidence for extra time. Lia will discuss the administration and scoring of a range of subtests and composites, and shows how the results are recorded on Form 8. The session will include video examples of subtest administration.

9. *Form 8 - a step by step guide to completing the Form 8 2022/23 – Lia Castiglione

Lia will take us step by step through the correct completion of all 3 parts of Form 8 and point out common mistakes.

10. Case Studies – Emma Smith

This live, interactive session is not pre-recorded and will have 15 places available, bookable in advance. It will review a number of cases studies based on candidates who need access arrangements.

The morning conference session is SASC approved for 3 hours core CPD. Delegates who attend this full session will be emailed a certificate a few days after the conference.

Four of the pre-recorded seminars are SASC-approved. If full day delegates access the SASC-approved seminars, certificates for these will be emailed for these as well, adding another 2 hours core SASC-approved CPD.