Can you get extra time for practical exams?

[TeenTimesTwo]

Just pondering here for DD who is only y8.

I know you can get extra time for slow processing for written exams which DD has been told she probably qualifies for already.

Can you get extra time for practical exams due to poor motor skills?
I'm thinking specifically cooking? DD has poor muscle strength and coordination which means that basic things like peeling and chopping take more time.

anyone?

The JQC stuff was unclear to me.
On the one hand it implied it was possible, but then on the other it said not in a situation where timing was important (which I guess it is in cooking).

I will ask someone at school when the opportunity arises. But I find it helpful to 'know' what answer I'm expecting.

One thing that made me want to find out sooner rather than later, is the business about extra time being 'normal practice'. So DD gets extra time for written tests already, but if for practicals it has also has to be 'normal practice', we might need to explore what that means for food tech lessons next year if there is an issue.

In the meantime we are trying to give DD lots of practice and looking into the best equipment ...

Yes tiggy I did wonder whether it might come down to just choosing the menu carefully. I shall ask when I get an opportunity.

I'm giving this a hopeful bump in case anyone has appeared here since March and has experience of this. (Especially as tiggys responses have now gone)

The only practical subject I have with a child who has an Access Arrangement is ICT and they're eligible for extra time in respect of the printing etc they need to do. It's already a 3 hours exam in it's own right but they needed the extra 25%.

If you can tell me the board and/or spec of the subject then I'll get you a definitive answer

Food technology is one of those subjects that wasn't reformed when the new 9-1 GCSEs were introduced so it doesn't exist anymore.

Edexcel 'Food Preparation & Nutrition'

She has been told she qualifies for 25% extra time for written exams due to slow processing and writing.
She also has 'Developmental Coordination Disorder' i.e. motor skills in bottom 1%.

She could do with extra time as:
a) it is harder to remember instructions so she has to keep looking back at the recipe
AND
b) things like grating, chopping etc take her extra time

Everything she produces in lessons is delicious but she has to use some of break to get it all done, even with us pre-grating at home.

Thanks teen. The school where I work has moved towards level 2/Vcerts instead of the GCSE. I think these have controlled assessments rather than a practical exam and it's less pressurized.
For both slow processing and slow writing then she would qualify for extra time (but not for just one of these if that makes sense).
For some practical exams for students with disabilities it's possible to have a practical assistant to help the candidate with some tasks.
I think it's possible to have extra time if needed but it's rare.

Thanks cat . I am trying to see what's likely to set my mindset before I ask school.

She'll do the GCSE regardless as we are scrabbling around for subjects she has a hope of passing anyway, but it would be nice for her to have more of a chance to show what she can do.

How early does a school need to be investigating this kind of thing? ie Do I need to get on and ask (seems a bit early), or can I leave it until the options are officially picked?

An Access Arrangement only lasts for 2 years so you don't need to do anything now but I'd hope she is on the SENCO's radar for now?

Thank you. Yes she is on SENCO radar, and pastoral. We have opened negotiations about maybe not doing a full set of options.

You're a wise parent. Too many push the set options rather than focusing on what their child will perform well in and boost their confidence. Doing a great job. Your SENCO will appreciate your support and if anything like mine will encourage your DC all the way

Yes you can, but it has to be done via the correct channels.

I can only tell you about Music but I emailed the subject officer at the exam board earlier this week about one of our year 11s to ensure his mock exam followed the same process as the summer one will. In short, his listening exam is done from a CD. He will have to take his in a separate room with another invigilator. The invigilator is given a track listing and stopwatch and then has to pause the CD for the requisite amount of time at the end of each track so he gets his extra 25% processing time. In the "normal" exam, the invigilator starts the CD and it just runs on until the end of the exam.

It would be worth your SENCO contacting the relevant exam board to find out exactly how they want the extra time to work so that the school and you can get your DD into those habits now. HTH

Thank you to all that have replied, you have given me hope.

Mal she is effectively getting extra time already as she turns up in break to make a start before the rest of the class arrives.

I'll wait until we do the options process and enquire further then.