SpLD Assessment Standards Committee [SASC] Authorised CPD Provider

The Education Access SASC approved mentoring scheme is aimed at anyone with an interest in submitting reports for APC for the pre-16 age group. SASC have recommended that new APC holders take part in 5 hours mentoring, as part of their core CPD requirement. The scheme is cost-effective and flexible, can be customised to your goals, and will:

Give you confidence in the requirements and expectations of APC-level testing and reporting;
Confirm and reinforce your existing good practise;
Leave you confident in submitting a report to SASC for APC;
Reflect your commitment to the professional standards required by practitioners who are wishing to renew their APC.

The programme is designed to take approximately 5 hours and will provide 5 hours of authorised, core hours towards your CPD requirements. It includes a 90 minute video-call with your mentor and possible activities for you to complete to generate discussion points. In addition, your mentor will review one of your diagnostic assessment reports against the criteria used for APC submissions and provide detailed written feedback for you to incorporate into a future report that you can then use as your APC submission.

Other options

3.5 hour package for those who want a written review of a report marked against the APC criteria.
Education Access also offer individual one hour sessions, charged at £68.00 per hour. (Please note these options will be classed as supplementary CPD.)
Education Access also offers mentoring for Access Arrangements for either SENCOs and/ or Specialist Assessors.

Who is the 5 hour mentoring package for?

Those applying for an APC for the first time or a first renewal and working with the pre-16 age group.
Those who are re-submitting an APC application following feedback.
Established assessors who wish to update and consolidate their current good practice in preparation for renewing and submitting an APC renewal.

You need to meet the SASC educational and experience requirements for APC submission or hold a current APC.

What will you learn?

A sound understanding of current SASC regulations and requirements for Diagnostic Assessment Reports. This includes level of accessibility, forms of recommendations, structure and formatting.
Knowledge of tests that are recognised by SASC for use when assessing to ensure all core components are covered.
Following a review of one of your Diagnostic Assessment Reports, feedback relating to strengths and issues that need addressing in preparation for APC submission.

Expectations of mentors and mentees

You can expect the following from your mentor:

online-video-based sessions to discuss the programme and receive feedback on activities when completing the 5 hour programme.
Access via email, with responses normally within 72 hours.

Your mentor will expect you to:

Complete the mentoring process within 2 months.
Complete the tasks set in a timely fashion.

You will need access to email, a word processor (including the ability to ‘Insert comments’), or otherwise mark up a document) and an internet connection suitable for video-calling. You will, of course, need to have access to the full range of standardised tests required for children aged 16 years and under.

Why choose Education Access for your mentoring?

Your mentor will be Rebecca Thompson. She has more than 19 years’ assessment experience, and has been passionate about bringing the best possible education to all students since volunteering in a unit for pupils with additional needs while she was at university.

She has pursued a career direction as a specialist teacher and assessor, enabling students to access education and demonstrate their potential. For over 20 years she has worked in mainstream and specialist schools and in LEA support services, before setting out on her own and forming Education Access.

For several years, she has supported other teachers who wish to develop in their roles supporting students with specific learning difficulties, as a mentor and tutor for the Level 5 Specialist Teacher qualification. She is also a senior assessor and mentor for the Postgraduate Award of Proficiency in Assessment for Access Arrangements (PAPAA). She has held APC for 9 years and is a member of the APC Renewal Team for the BDA, so has excellent working knowledge of the APC report writing requirements.

For further details about R ebecca’s qualifications, click here

How to apply

Please email Rebecca Thompson, or call on 07930 369 844, for an application form or to discuss the details of this mentoring provision.

Fees

This 5 hour SASC approved mentoring provision costs £320 and includes:

Reasonable access to your mentor through email;
Provision of 90 minute video call through Microsoft Teams/ ZOOM;
Review and feedback of one of your diagnostic assessment reports (note that you cannot use the report we review in your future APC submissions);
Electronic certificate of completion.