This virtual conference is for anyone involved in the access arrangements process who wants to update their knowledge for the 2024/25 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 our Venue Conferences in Manchester, Birmingham and London, please click here for details.
For those who would prefer to access our On-Demand Video course at a date of their choosing, please click here.
For those who select the Morning Only option, Caroline Read and Rebecca Thompson will present a live Update/Refresher for the JCQ regulations 2024/25, 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 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.
New for this year: In response to delegate requests, for full day delegates, we will now be offering a recording of the update/refresher training for two weeks following the Conference, so that you can revisit the training.
Caroline is a Specialist Teacher who has practical experience in all areas of the Access Arrangements process and trains for LAs, Universities and SEN Services. Caroline contributed to the PATOSS/JCQ publication ‘Dyslexia: Assessing the need for Access Arrangements’, has been published in academic journals and has worked with various publishers to develop tests. She was part of the working party which set up ‘Access Arrangements Online’ and has been involved with other DfE and Ofqual training and policy projects.
Rebecca is a Specialist Teacher with more than 19 years’ assessment experience. She has a current Assessment Practising Certificate, regularly carrying out diagnostic assessment for dyslexia and dyscalculia, as well as carrying out access arrangement assessments. She is a senior assessor for the PAPAA course, supporting students with the course demands. She is a member of the APC accreditation team for the BDA and is a SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) approved CPD provider, offering a SASC approved mentoring course for diagnostic report writing and a Feifer Assessment of Maths course.
Nick Lait is Chair of the JCQ Special Requirements Committee. His responsibilities include the production of JCQ documents relating to examination administration, such as the JCQ publication Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments and Instructions for Conducting Examinations. Nick provides advice and guidance to schools and colleges, predominately on access arrangements. He has a thorough knowledge of the examination administration system having previously worked with Edexcel for 11 years, in both UK and International exam operations, taking a lead role in the development of Access Arrangements Online.
Sue is Special Requirements & Centre Approval Manager at AQA. She has been involved in the provision of Access Arrangements, Modified Question Papers and Special Consideration for over twenty years. Sue’s role enables her to explore and action improvements to the exam experience for students with SEN and the teachers who support them. Sue is also a member of the JCQ Special Requirements Committee.
Seminars will be available on the conference platform from 6th September - 4th October.
The seminars for 2024 are:
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.
Some 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 SASC-approved CPD hours.
Live online keynote training session by Caroline Read and Rebecca Thompson (with contribution from Nick Lait JCQ). This provides comprehensive Update/Refresher Training on the 2024/25 JCQ regulations and procedures, SASC-approved for 3 hours core CPD and including live Q&A
Networking opportunities - Connect with colleagues in similar roles
Four weeks access to a range of pre-recorded seminars - A range of seminars on aspects of exam access arrangements (several sessions SASC-approved), all of which can be accessed for two weeks before, during the conference, and two weeks after the conference. Seminars will include The Effect of Maths Difficulties on Exam Performance, a session on the DASH2 and A Year in Secondary School Access Arrangements (details of other seminars will follow in the next few weeks).
Two weeks access to the recorded update/refresher training - new for this year, we will give delegates access to the recorded version of the update/refresher training following the Conference so they can revisit it
Live online Q & A sessions with seminar speakers - Opportunities on the conference day to ask any questions arising from seminars
Expo - The facility to view materials from publishers and distributers, with the option to book 1:1 consultations
Individual online appointments with experts - 10-minute slots on the day of the conference, available to book in advance
You can book online using the form below. You can Pay online, or we can supply you with an invoice.
