word processor for exams - normal way of working

[ArianaDumbledore]

TL;DR - how long would a student need to have been established using a word processor for to be able to allowed to use for exams?

DS2 is Yr9. He has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and is quite hypermobile, particularly hands/shoulders. We had a private OT assessment done as he was struggling with handwriting. The OT recommended word processor/laptop due to his pain issues. She advised that when it became established as his normal way of working he would be permitted to use it for exams. I gave the school a copy of the report and had a meeting with the SENCo and said we were happy to fund/supply the laptop and have IT do anything they needed, we just wanted to get it in place. I was told they had one and not to worry they would get it sorted. Then 2nd lockdown happened.

I've chased it up but he still does not have access to a word processor. The SENCo is no longer in post and an assistant is covering but she is limited to what she can advise.

What I'm trying to find out is how long the requirement is that the student be using a laptop as their normal way of working? He has also now been diagnosed with Essential Tremors (constantly shaking hands) so he's struggling more with writing.

There would be no problem if it became way of working from start y10 so you're definitely not too late. (I'd be tempted to just buy one if you can afford it.)

For internal assessments there's no minimum, up to the school. For public exams eg GCSEs they need to put in the permission to use it around January before the exams, it needs to be established thus considerably before then

My ds has been given permission to use laptop in school and exams and he got this Easter of year 10.

When are the exams?

teen I am more than happy to buy and supply the laptop ,but I just can't get anyone at the school to o.k. him using it /specifying what would be acceptable so I'm a bit stuck.

He was actually given his English assessment back this week and told he'd not written enough to mark it, and allowed 30 minutes to do it again(!). I have no idea why this was allowed but I'm guessing because by rights he should go down a set, but has he has a high predicted grade due to SATs they need to keep him in top set.

thanks motogogo and BigasdaB that's helpful information and hopefully I can get it sorted for DS2 in good time.

Yafilthyanimal GCSEs are the biggie and those aren't until Yr11, but he will have mocks in Yr10 and I want to make sure he will be able to use one for them. But really, in typing all this out he really does need the use now in general, particularly as the tremors are here to stay.

He's down to be assessed by an external assessor in September but he performs o.k. in the 10 minute DASH test, it's after about 15 minutes the pain really kicks in.

I would suggest contacting the examinations officer at the school as well as the SENCO (or whoever is covering the role just now) and ask them about access arrangements for the exams because your son needs to use a laptop and you want to get this sorted for the internal mocks as well as the external examinations.

Might spur them on to agreeing for him to use the laptop all the time. If he has trouble writing then if he doesn't use a laptop I would ask about respite breaks during exams when he needs them. So he'd be able to take a short break of a few minutes when needed and have the time added on at the end (which is kind of what they did with the English assessment, but during the exam and not when they realise they've cocked up later! But it does sound like he needs the laptop and I hope you get it sorted soon.

School don't have to make an access arrangement application to use a laptop unless the pupil needs spell check on, then an application would need to be made and the pupil would need to satisfy the criteria for a scribe. Here is JCQ's guidance - 5.8 relates to laptops.

I second ChicChaos's suggestion of rest breaks. They can be given in addition to a laptop, and wouldn't be an usual access arrangement for someone with CFS.

Thank you

I've had a dig around and found the exam officer details. I think I'll leave it until he goes back in September, partly because it sounds like the assistant has been dumped in it but also because I had cause to make a formal complaint this week (an unrelated matter) so I don't it to be perceived wrongly as just looking for an excuse to complain.

You do raise a good point about breaks. His Chronic Fatigue syndrome does cause brain fog and it could be helpful for him to take a bit of a break. But I'm not sure what evidence is needed for that kind of adjustment.

For rest breaks no evidence is needed other than confirmation of his diagnosis and that it is his normal way of working. Again, no application is necessary. In the document I linked to rest breaks are section 5.1.

I would try and sort it before September, rather than have him go back and then three weeks in teachers be told that he may now use a laptop. If they know before the year starts, then they can be ready for any adaptations they may need/want to make. (As an example, DD has write-in booklets for some subjects, and your DS would presumably be better off if the teachers emailed him the booklets to work with them on screen.)
It would also enable him to get set up in advance with organising his laptop so that he's got folders set up for each subject and things like that. If he were able to start using it for a bit in July, then there might be time to identify potential problems and work out solutions over the summer.

X-post 10brokenbottles that's very helpful

I've got paediatrician and neurologist letters with diagnosis plus the OT report so that should be enough. He's been referred foe physio as well now.

I think the biggest barrier is getting the school to take ownership

I will highlight the English assessment situation as to why they need to put proper measures in place.

Thanks everyone

Expected spec:
Robust, Lightweight, fast start up, good battery life.
Can run Word and Power point.

I would also recommend starting the process sooner rather than later OP, although I appreciate that if you have something else going on with the school just now you might have had enough of them and be on countdown to the summer break!

It is slightly disappointing that the school haven't already made these suggestions themselves. As 10brokengreenbottles mentioned, arrangements such as respite breaks, laptop use and extra time are often combined and it's not a case of one or the other. You can have them all.

I agree too with starting the process now. Exams officers should be less busy once the next week or so is over, so it would be a good opportunity to sort it.

It is also worth flagging the issues up to the HoY as they may be able to look into ensuring his timetable involves fewer moves or having a quiet space at lunchtime to rest. Copy them and the acting SENCO into everything.

Finally, when we have students who use laptops, it is not just for English. They use them for extended answers in any subject, particularly essay-type ones like History or RE. Even in my subject, Music, there is one longer answer question on the paper and I have had students do a mixture of the answer booklets for the "tick the box" or "underline the term"-type questions, but use their laptop for anything else. We have specific exam laptops with everything disabled on them that we can book for internal assessments so the students get used to using them before mocks or actual exams. I keep all the evidence of their use on file so I can prove that it really is their normal way of working.

The biggest issue is there isn't anyone senior who really will take ownership. The HOY set up (they aren't called that) in his school purely deals with behaviour. I cannot describe how awful the student support department have been. Every time I've had contact they claimed to have no record of his Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. They've blocked him coming home ill because of his low attendance and generally couldn't be less supportive if they tried. Then obviously there's no SENCo.

So it's really difficult to escalate without making a formal complaint to the principal. But as I've just lodged one I really can't put in another.

I do take onboard the importance and the adjustments were technically agreed in November. it just seems they have no system to actually implement them. The assistant Senco said she had emailed DS2s teachers to say be has laptop use but I'm not sure each class would have a spare laptop. Ds2 is also very quiet and on the anxious side ans I know he'd get stressed at asking in case he got told off.

Thanks all

I'd take ownership if you can.
Buy a laptop.
Email all his teachers saying 'DS has been assessed as entitled to use a laptop in class and for all assessments. This is due to .... As from X date therefore he will be bringing a laptop to class.
It would greatly assist him if:

• he could be seated near to a power supply
• you could email him in advance any sheets to be filled out in class
• you could discuss with him how you would like him to provide work for marking

Obviously this may take some adjusting to, so please talk to DS as needed and email be with any issues.

Kind regards
...

NB Maths he may well be better off doing by hand. If he really needs a laptop for maths then you need guidance as to what software will work best for maths.

If he can't touch type then learn over the summer.

I think he'd quite likely end up put in inclusion if I did that!

I will get it sorted, I've had a reply from my complaint which has irritated me greatly and has opened the door to mention the lack of adjustments...

I think he'd quite likely end up put in inclusion if I did that!

Seriously? That's more or less what I did for DD1!

You should be escalating this now. School have had plenty of time to make the adjustment. They don't need to use the external assessor for a word processor as the decision is made by the centre and you have medical evidence in any case.

There should be a governor whose specific remit is oversight of Special Needs. Contact the Head/Deputy first and explain what you have done here as objectively as you can. If you get no reply or an unsatisfactory reply, contact the clerk and ask who that is. Letter/Email to them and Chair of Governors which should shake things up a bit.

My DS has been using a laptop as his usual way of working since Y6 (SEN and OT reasons) but I had to put up a fight to get school to agree to him using it in his Y8 exams. I have found if you wait for school to act you get nowhere. If you can afford a laptop, get one now. DS has an inexpensive chromebook. It has been brilliant - lightweight, sturdy, long battery life. I've been reading through the JCQ document on access arrangements for GCSE. It's long but worth getting yourself informed. You need to get access arrangements in place in Y9, so I would speak to the school now and find out who is taking on the Senco role. All the arrangements have to be okayed by the Senco. Good luck!

he'd not written enough to mark it
What a load of bollocks. However, as an English teacher I am often the one who drives laptop assessment and use because I tend to spot when it's needed. Can you lean on the English teacher to support it?

Can't you just send him in with one?

My DD has dyslexia and hypermobile fingers and the Ed Psych wrote in her last report (done beginning of Y6) that she should use a laptop as her normal way of working. We then did a touch typing course during lockdown to get her started.

I bought her a laptop before she started secondary and she just turned up on day 1 of Y7 and said she used a laptop. Other than one teacher once getting her to do an assessment on blank paper nobody has batted an eyelid.

We charge it overnight and it lasts all day at school (HP laptop that was about £500) so no need for power-sockets etc.

She uses it for pretty much all subjects except maths.

2 of. My children use laptops for secondary school. They use one note set up on the school account so teachers can view their work - one book for each subject. Even maths. There is a good equation editor and graph drawing. My DS is also hypermobile and was recommended laptop by OT. You need to request an individual learning plan (these can have all sorts of different names!) from the Sendco which specifies what is used and when eg laptop, rest breaks, ability to opt out of PE when they can't manage it without needing letters from home every time etc. If you get nowhere with the Sendco then escalate to the deputy head / head. When my DS started at the school I met with them and told them I would supply a laptop and set up the usual way of working, they just needed to add it on to the school WiFi network.

For rest breaks you just need a consultant letter confirming diagnosis. The problem is that likely they don't have a specialised inte4nal assessor and someone who oversees the heavy duty paperwork needed. Fingers crossed that a suitably qualified SENCO is starting in September.