Disability Statement Overview

• The Academy welcomes applications from disabled students and endeavours to consider their individual special needs. However, support for disabled students may require negotiation on the provision of facilities not normally available. Applicants that are suitable will be given the opportunity to discuss their needs and how these might be met. If the individual needs cannot be met the prospective learner will be advised of the reasons why and will be given appropriate advice.

• The assessors will take all reasonable and practical steps to meet the special needs of disabled students. Assessors will consider methods of assessment that take into account the special needs of disabled learners and are designed to make fair assessment of each learner’s ability.

The member of staff with primary responsibility for learners with disabilities is:

Headjogs Academy can provide the following advice and support in relation to disabled learners

• Advice to prospective applicants, students and members of staff on the provision of facilities and services available.
• Co-ordinating the arrangements for the assessment of students with disabilities.
• Liaison with Assessors to ensure continued support in all key skills areas.
• Liaison with external salons to ensure placements comply with each learner’s individual needs.
• Organisation of personal helpers and support workers (e.g. script writers, script readers, sign language interpreters, note takers).

• The academy provides a variety of support hardware which is free to use by all learners (e.g. Spellcheckers, Dictaphones, and Calculators).
• The academy supplies P.C. access onsite. This enables learners to use software packages, teaching courseware, word processing facilities, e-mail, and the World Wide Web.

• Support for individual learners in their key skills studies is determined at initial assessment, in consultation with key skills tutors as appropriate.
• In the case of students with special needs, the Academy provides flexible examination conditions such as.
• Up to 50% extra time.
• Arrangement for prepared scripts.
• Use of electronic dictionaries
• Allowance for rest breaks
• Computer access
• Organisation of a private room.
• Communicators for the deaf.

Any special needs requirements should be discussed with the learner’s assessor and the Key skills co-ordinator in the first instance, who will then make the necessary arrangements.

The academy located in the Ilford Exchange Mall which is well served by public transport as it has a mainline train station within 100m of the site and is situated on a main bus route. The Exchange has a six level car park linked directly to the mall which has designated disabled parking zones for orange badge holders. Unfortunately there is a charge for use of the car park.

The Exchange has wheelchair access ramps and lifts. Disabled toilet facilities are available within the academy premises.

The Exchange also contains a variety of wheelchair accessible shops, banking and eating facilities.