Assessment of need - Keele University
Exam Arrangement Deadline. Please note that the deadline for putting in adjustments for examinations is Friday 1st March. It will only be possible to put in any adjustments after this date in very exceptional circumstances. If you require any arrangements or have any questions regarding this please contact DDS as soon as possible.

Disability and Dyslexia Support

Disability and Dyslexia Support

Assessment of need

If you have a diagnosis of SpLD you will need to provide, either an up to date diagnostic from a qualified Teacher for SpLD or an Educational Psychologist, as well as an approval letter from Student Finance England or NHS(if your course is funded by them) to say that they will fund the Needs Assessment. If you have any other disability you will need to bring a letter from a doctor or consultant which explains your diagnosis and the impact it has on daily living.

Disability and Dyslexia Support is an outreach Centre for High Peak, University of Derby Access Centre. You will meet with a Needs Assessor from High Peak at Keele, and the assessment will last for about one hour and thirty minutes.

The assessment will allow you to fully discuss your individual support needs, so it is good to plan and prepare a list of issues and the kinds of support that you think you will need to access your programmes of learning. We want you to fully participate in the assessment.

The assessment will follow a format as below:

  • Disability and/or Medical Condition and the impact on learning
  • Previous Education/Employment Details  
  • Statement of Course Content
  • Effects of Disability on Study
  • Demonstration of specialist equipment and software
  • Recommendations for support
  • Recommendations for any institutional arrangements

It would be good if you could think about some of the following areas:

  • Study skills that you may have difficulty with, for example reading and research, or attending lectures with large numbers of students
  • Drafting assignments
  • Time management and organisational skills
  • Exam arrangements
  • How you cope with practical work
  • Any accommodation issues