Candy Clarkson MA.Ed
SpLD Specialist Assessor
Costings for Schools and Efficiency Record
Access Arrangements for the Academic Year 2021 - 2022
Access Arrangements for the Academic Year 2021 - 2022
Spring Term Week 11
Spring Term Week 11
Week beginning 28th March, 2022
This brings us to the end of the Spring term and the 31st March deadline for online applications for JCQ access arrangements. It just remains for me to thank all the SENCOs with whom I have had the privilege of working over the year, for all their unsung hard work, dedication and extraordinary efficiency; invariably under very difficult circumstances. I most look forward to working with you again next academic year and in the meantime, if you have any queries, then please don't hesitate to drop me an email. I will always be very happy to do everything that I can to help.
Spring Term Week 10
Spring Term Week 10
Week beginning 21st March, 2022
Return visit to an Northwest London academy, to see 20 prescreened Year 10s and 'mop up' three Year 11s who were out of school during my last visit. Group tested all students, then marked, scored and recorded results on spreadsheet. SENCO and I then discussed results, scrutinised student scripts and agreed all 23 students to go forward be seen individually. Completed Form 8 part 2s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 23 students: one day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£13.04 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Then return visit to an East Berkshire comprehensive school, to see three Year 10s, three Year 11s and eleven Year 12s, all new to the school. Group tested all students, then marked, scored and recorded results on the spreadsheet, before individually assessing all students. Discussed the results with the SENCO, then completed Part 2 of Form 8s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 17 students: one day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£17.64 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Spring Term Week 9
Spring Term Week 9
Week beginning 14th March, 2022
Return visit to an East London academy, to see 47 prescreened Year 10s and 'mop up' two Year 11s who were out of school during my last visit. Group tested all students in two sittings, then marked, scored and recorded results on spreadsheet. SENCO and I then discussed results, scrutinised student scripts and agreed 35 students to go forward be seen individually. Completed Form 8 part 2s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements, all in two days.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 47 students: 2 days of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £600 (£12.76 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 2 days.
Spring Term Week 8
Spring Term Week 8
Week beginning 7th March, 2022
Return visit to a Yorkshire grammar school to see 65 prescreened Year 10s and 'mop up' new entrants to Years 11,12 and 13. Group tested and then individually saw all students and discussed the results with the SENCO/Deputy Headteacher and support team, before completing Form 8 part 2s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements. For a total of 85 students, we budgeted for four days but owing to a most amazing TA, who by the end of a third day of running up and down stairs and all round the school to collect students for individual assessment was flat on her back with exhaustion, God bless her, we managed to complete in three.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 85 students: three days of individual assessment + one day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £1,200 (£14.12 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 3 days.
Spring Term Week 7
Spring Term Week 7
Week beginning 28th February, 2022
Visit to a West London college to individually assess 24 prescreened students. Wonderful hospitality at this delightful faith school. Group tested and then individually saw all students and discussed the results with the SENCO/Assistant Headteacher, before completing Form 8 part 2s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements.
The SENCO wondered how I could see so many students in one day, when more usually, assessors see between four and six. I explained that this is because my initial group testing makes for three major efficiencies: Firstly, group testing, where possible, reduces individual testing time. Secondly, group testing allows me to observe and note students' behaviour under formal, written examination conditions, then by scrutinising their written responses along with their Form 8 Part 1s, I can fairly accurately predict their assessment needs to know which to apply from the whole range of further individual tests. Thirdly and most importantly, given my extensive experience as a secondary English teacher, senior school leader and FE and HE lecturer, group testing enables me to quickly establish a firm but mutually respectful, supportive, warm and trusting rapport with students, entirely in keeping with the ethos and expectations of their own school or college. This opens up the way for individual, private discussion, in which each student immediately feels secure in confidently disclosing their difficulties, such that their access needs can be fully explored and properly accommodated.
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 24 students: one day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£12.50 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Spring Term Week 6
Spring Term Week 6
Week beginning 21st February, 2022
Return visit to an Essex FE college, to 'mop up' 60 students who were out of college during my visit of last December. As students to be seen were on different sites and drawn from a whole variety of full and part-time, day and evening courses, there was no opportunity for group testing and so students were seen individually in pre allocated time slots drawn from their timetables. Individually tested 60 students and discussed the results with the Assistant Head of Extended Learning and Team of support staff, before completing Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of agreed JCQ and centre granted arrangements.
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 60 students: four days of individual assessment + one day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £1,500 (£25.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 4 days.
Thank you Candy. It was great to work with you again. Assistant Head of Extended Learning
Spring Term Week 5
Spring Term Week 5
Week beginning 7th February, 2022
Return visit to a Berkshire FE college, to 'mop up' new entrants to Years 10, 11, 12 and 13. Group, then individually tested 16 students and discussed the results with the SEND Administrator, before completing Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements agreed with the SENCO.
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 16 students: one day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£18.75 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Spring Term Week 4
Spring Term Week 4
Week beginning 31st January, 2022
Return visit to a West London Comprehensive to 'mop up' new entrants to Year 10 and 11. Tested 36 students and discussed the results with the Assistant SENCO. One further day was spent completing Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements agreed with the Assistant SENCO.
'Thanks so much for your time, Candy. It was great having you in! Efficient as ever.' SENCO
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 36 students: one day of individual assessment, plus one day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £600 (£16.66 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Spring Term Week 3
Spring Term Week 3
Week beginning 24th January, 2022
A last minute cancellation meant that I could see a school on the waiting list, so I was delighted to visit an East London academy to support a SENCO, new to access arrangements and to assess 41 students for whom Part 1 of Form 8s had been properly completed. Group then individually assessed students and discussed results with the SENCO. With the help of the support team, who couldn't have been kinder and more helpful, we completed the work in two days. One further day was spent completing Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements agreed with the SENCO.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 41 students: two days of individual assessment, plus one day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £900 (£21.95 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 2 days.
Spring Term Week 2
Spring Term Week 2
Week beginning 17th January, 2022
This week, off to an Essex academy to support a SENCO new to access arrangements and to assess 10 students for whom Part 1 of Form 8s had been properly completed. Group then individually assessed students, completed Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the SENCO; all by the end of the school day. Lovely day, great school and terrific staff.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 10 students: one day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£30.00 per student)
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Spring Term Week 1
Spring Term Week 1
Week beginning 10th January, 2022
Return visit to a South West London academy. Day 1 spent screening new entrants to KS4 and KS5 and last minute referrals from staff, then calculating, recording and forwarding results to the SENCO. Day 2 spent assessing the students put forward for assessment by the SENCO on the basis of my screening results of the day before and last October and staff reports of normal way of working; and for whom Part 1 of Form 8 had been completed. One further day spent completing Form 8 Part 2s and the spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the SENCO.
Thanks again for all of your guidance and support with this process, have a great weekend. SENCO
Cost to the school for screening and individual assessment:
For 34 students: one day of screening @ £300 per day = £300 (£8.82 per student)
For 48 Students: one day of individual assessment, plus one day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £600 (£12.50 per student)
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 2 days.
Autumn Term Week 14
Autumn Term Week 14
Week beginning 13th December, 2021
Second week of a two-week booking for an Essex FE college, working closely with a wonderful Exams Office and Learning Support Team. Continued to work flexibly across sites as directed, to group test small groups of students as timetabled attendance allowed and fitting in individual assessments where possible. At the end of each day, emailed a spreadsheet progress report to the Exams Office, detailing the students who had been group tested along with results and those students for whom individual assessment was complete. Amazing work done by the Learning Support Assistants in getting the students, who thought that the advent of Omicron meant that the Christmas holidays had come early, in for assessment. Two further days then spent completing Form 8s and spreadsheet of progress, detailing further action to be taken. Looking forward to returning in February to 'mop up'.
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 190 students: 10 days of individual assessment and 2 days of clerical work @ £300 per day = £3,600 (£18.95 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 10 days.
Autumn Term Week 13
Autumn Term Week 13
Week beginning 6th December, 2021
First week of a two-week booking for an Essex FE college. Under the direction of the Learning Support Coordinator, worked across sites to group test small groups of students as timetabled attendance allowed and fitting in individual assessments where possible. Many students on day release or evenings only so worked flexibly across sites. At the end of each day, emailed a spreadsheet progress report to the Exams Office, detailing the students who had been group tested along with results and those students for whom individual assessment was complete. Fingers crossed that the new Covid restrictions do not result in more staff shortage and student absence so close to the end of term, such that students miss their opportunity for assessment.
Autumn Term Week 12
Autumn Term Week 12
Week beginning 30th November, 2021
Visit to a South London academy to see 125 prescreened students selected from Years 11,12 and 13. Group then individually tested students over 3 days, then took 2 further days to complete Form 8s and spreadsheet of arrangements discussed with the SENCO and AHT. Looking forward to revisiting this school in March, to see their Year 10s.
Thank you very much and for all your work with the students and for your advice and guidance.
Look forward to seeing you next time. Kind regards, SENCO
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 125 students: 3 days of individual assessment and 2 days of clerical work @ £300 per day = £1,500 (£12.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 3 days.
Next day, a return visit to a Berkshire school to see 30 new entrants to Years 12 and 13 who had been granted access arrangements in previous schools, but for whom the SENCO, quite correctly, had decided that the evidence from previous schools was either too incomplete or too insubstantial to qualify for 'roll forward' applications.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 30 students: 1 day of individual assessment @ £300 per day = £300 (£10.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Autumn Term Week 11
Autumn Term Week 11
Week beginning 22nd November, 2021
Return visit to a North West London academy to see 48 prescreened, Year 11 students. Group then individually tested students, taking some time out to allow for their Year 11 mocks. Completed and returned Form 8s and spreadsheet detailing Form 8 and SENCO File Note requirements, along with JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the SENCO.
For 48 students: 2 days of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £600 (£12.50 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 2 days.
Autumn Term Week 10
Autumn Term Week 10
Week beginning 15th November, 2021
Return visit to a South Oxfordshire school to 'mop up' 10 pre-screened Year 10 students who had missed last week's individual assessments.
Then a return visit to a Berkshire school to 'mop up' new entrants to Years 10, 11 and 13, who had been granted access arrangements in a previous school, but for whom the evidence from previous schools was either too incomplete or too insubstantial to qualify for 'roll forward' applications.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 15 students: 1 day of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £300 (£20.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Autumn Term Week 9
Autumn Term Week 9
Week beginning 8th November, 2021
Return visit to a South Oxfordshire school to screen 17 Year 10 students, who missed my end of Year 9 summer screening, either due to absence or being new entrants to the school. Then individually assessed 83 students, identified by my screening and agreed with the SENCO as needing further assessment for access arrangements. One further day, to complete Form 8s and spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements, as discussed with the TA deputising for the SENCO.
Cost to the school for screening and individual assessment:
For 82 students: 3 days of screening and/or individual assessment and 1 day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £1,200.00 (£14.63 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 3 days.
Autumn Term Week 8
Autumn Term Week 8
Week beginning 1st November, 2021
Return visit to a Yorkshire grammar school, to assess 44, prescreened, Year 11 students. Group then individually saw all students. Completed Form 8s and spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the SENCO by the end of the second day, all in good time for their Year 11 mocks. Looking forward to coming back in March 2022, to assess their Year 10s.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 44 students: 2 days of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £600.00 (£13.64 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 2 days.
Autumn Term Week 7
Autumn Term Week 7
Week beginning 18th October, 2021
Visit to a West London academy to see 12 prescreened Year 11 students. Group then individually assessed students, completed Form 8s and spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the Assistant SENCO, all on the same day.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 12 students: 1 day of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £300.00 (£25.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
'Thank you so much Candy! It was a pleasure working with you! I really appreciate your efforts and efficiency.'
Assistant SENCO.
Autumn Term Week 6
Autumn Term Week 6
Week beginning 11th October, 2021
Visit to a Kent grammar school to see 24 prescreened students selected from Years 10,11 and 12. Group then individually assessed students, completed Form 8s and spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed with the SENCO. Then went to see The Boomtown Rats at the London Palladium. All in a day's work!
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 24 students: 1 day of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £300.00 (£12.50 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Autumn Term Week 5
Autumn Term Week 5
Week beginning 4th October, 2021
Return visit to a South West London academy to screen 127 students selected from Years 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Cost to the school for screening:
For 127 students: One day of screening and one additional day for clerical work @ £300 per day = £600 (£4.72 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day) x 1 day.
Enquiry from an independent college wanting me to 'remotely' sign off their GL Exact results as evidence for Form 8 Part 2. Politely declined.
Autumn Term Week 4
Autumn Term Week 4
Week beginning 27th September, 2021
Return visit to a North West London academy to see 50 prescreened students selected from Years 11 and 12. Group and then individually assessed all students. Returned completed Data Protection Notices and student scripts of free writing to the SENCO. Then electronically completed and returned Form 8s and spreadsheet of JCQ and centre granted arrangements discussed and agreed with the SENCO.
Cost to the school for individual assessment:
For 50 students: 2 days of assessment for Access Arrangements @ £300 per day = £600.00 (£12.00 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day).
At the request of the SENCO, telephone and email correspondence with two parents of students from Week 1, who were understandably disappointed that their children no longer qualified for access arrangements. Kindly explained and resolved matters to everyone's satisfaction.
More enquiries from schools and colleges wanting to 'establish a relationship', simply to satisfy JCQ criteria to continue to act as an examination centre and not because they had any intention of using my services. All politely declined.
Autumn Term Week 3
Autumn Term Week 3
Week beginning 20th September, 2021
Return visit to a Berkshire independent, to conduct a post-16, full diagnostic assessment for a Year 13 student and complete a Form 8. Then assessed a further Year 10 student for access arrangements only and completed a further Form 8.
Enquiry from a small, independent, faith school in the West Midlands. JCQ have given them a deadline, by which time they had to have registered a qualified assessor, in order to continue to act as an exam centre. Further questioning revealed that although they had been established for 23 years, not one application for access arrangements had ever been made, the reason being, 'Our students are too intelligent to need them.' I tried hard to explain the nature and purpose of the regulations but they simply weren't interested. Finally, they offered me a considerable sum of money just to use my name. I declined, explaining as politely as I could, that I have no interest in supporting a school determined to evade their responsibilties to their students under current disability legislation. I do get lots of this type of enquiry and I'm afraid that my response will be always the same. So please, please, please, don't ask.
Two more full diagnostic assessments to complete. Busy week!
Autumn Term Week 2
Autumn Term Week 2
Week beginning 13th September, 2021
Return visit to a South East London college to mop up all new entrants to KS4 and KS5. Group screened all 78 students in the sports hall and calculated, scored, recorded and emailed the results to the SENDCO by close of play the same day. The following day, as directed by the SENDCO, we completed 34 individual assessments, of which only 13 students required Part 2 of their Form 8 to be completed and/or SENCO File note. These were done along with the spreadsheet updated to include all JCQ and Centre Granted Arrangements discussed with the SENDCO.
Cost to the college for screening:
For 78 students: 1 day of screening and clerical work @ £300 per day = £300.00 (£3.85 per student).
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 34 students: 1 day of individual assessment and clerical work @ £300 per day = £300.00 (£8.82 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day).
'Thank you so much. It's always a pleasure working with you.' SENDCO.
Autumn Term Week 1
Autumn Term Week 1
Week beginning 6th September, 2021
Return visit to a Berkshire FE College to see the new intake of Year 10s and mop up recent entrants to Years 11,12 and 13. On entry, this cohort had been screened using GL EXACT, which suggested that 81% of students might qualify for Access Arrangements. The college used this information to complete Part 1 of Form 8s, as getting the information forwarded from previous schools, as now required by the regs is, '...still like pulling hen's teeth, as everyone is so busy'.
We re-screened the cohort to find that 63% of students might qualify for Access Arrangements. The results were marked, scored and recorded on the spreadsheet and emailed to the SENCO by close of play the following day. As directed by the SENCO, we then individually assessed 91 students in 2 days, to find that only 42% of the whole cohort required a Form 8 Part 2 and/or a SENCO File note, which along with the updated spreadsheet, were completed the following day. I felt extremely sorry for the SENCO, who on the basis of screening with EXACT and in preparation for my visit, had wasted so much of her precious time onerously completing Part 1 of Form 8s, that then proved not to be needed.
Cost to the college for screening:
For 161 students: 1 day of screening + 1 day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £600.00 (£3.73 per student).
Cost to the college for individual assessment:
For 91 students: 2 days of individual assessment + 1 day of clerical work @ £300 per day = £900.00 (£9.89 per student).
Plus travel or overnight accommodation (capped at £50 per day).
'Thank you for working so tirelessly to get through all the students. Much appreciated.' SEND Administrator.