Morning all
Student Support, and therefore DSA, should be available for a much wider
range of courses than straight undergrad degrees.
This is the advice which is currently given by DfES on which courses are
automatically designated for Student Support. Disabled students on these
courses who meet the residence criteria should qualify for DSA.
B133 The following classes of courses are designated automatically
providing they meet the other criteria set out above:
· A first degree course (e.g. a BA or BSc).
· A course for the Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).
· A course for the Higher National Diploma (HND) or Higher National
Certificate (HNC) of:
· the Business and Technician Education Council; or
· the Scottish Qualifications Authority
· A course of initial training for teachers, including such a course
leading to a first degree.
· A course for the further training of teachers or youth and community
workers.
· A course in preparation for a professional examination of a standard
higher than that of:
· examinations at advanced level for the General Certificate of
Education or the examination at the higher level for the Scottish
Certificate of Education; or
· the examination for the National Certificate or the National Diploma
of either of the bodies mentioned in paragraph 3
not being a course for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent
qualification) is normally required.
· A course providing education (whether or not in preparation for an
examination) the standard of which is:
· higher than that of courses providing education in preparation for any
of the examinations mentioned in paragraph 6(a) or (b) above; but
· not higher than that of a first degree course,
and for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is not
normally required (eg an NVQ level 4 where this is awarded along with a
first degree, DipHE or HND)
Interpretation of provisions on automatically designated courses
B134 The Department does not normally maintain any lists of courses which
are automatically designated under regulations 5 and 29 (although for the
time being we have provided a list of foundation degree courses at Annex
11). The SLC has a list of all courses provided by HEIs. Not all those
courses are designated. It will be for LEAs to decide which of them are
designated. LEAs may find that the information they need to establish
whether a course is designated under one of these paragraphs (for example,
the entry qualification required, if any, and the qualification it leads
to) should be relatively easy to obtain, for example from the student or
from the institution. Institutions will in many cases be familiar with
these qualifications and with the provisions in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of
Schedule 2 as they have certified eligibility for loans for students on
these courses in the past and continue to do so for existing students.
If you feel that the course you've mentioned does fall within the above
guidelines it would probably be worth following up with the LEAs who have
refused support to find out why.
Kath
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kath Henderson
Team Leader - Student Support
Education Department
Overseas House
PO Box 191
Quay Street
Manchester
M3 3ST Tel. No: 0161 234 7076
John Conway
<John.Conway@ROYAG To: [log in to unmask]
COL.AC.UK> cc:
Sent by: Subject: Re: SWD Conference and NUS policy
"Discussion list
for disabled
students and their
support staff."
<DIS-FORUM@JISCMAI
L.AC.UK>
18/11/2002 08:55
Please respond to
"Discussion list
for disabled
students and their
support staff."
Barry,
Can you - and anyone else - perhaps lead a movement to extend DSA funding
to
students on courses other than straight undergraduate degrees? I have
students on a two year diploma recognised in our portfolio of courses by
HEFCE which LEAs will not fund - and to make it worse, some will some won't
- so I have two students sitting side by side, one with his shiny new
laptop, the other with nowt.
It seems discriminatory that only degree students get support.
Any thoughts?
Dr. John S Conway
Disability officer
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 6JS
Phone +44 (0) 1285 652531 ext 2234
Fax +44 (0) 1285 650219
http://www.royagcol.ac.uk/~john_conway/
<http://www.royagcol.ac.uk/~john_conway/>
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-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Farleigh [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 8:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: SWD Conference and NUS policy
Hi Everybody,
The National Union of Students (NUS) Is as you probably all know a
representational, campaigning and lobbying organisation - the voice of UK
students. To do the campaign and lobbying work NUS must have policy passed
by conference - the democratic process.
This is done by our constituent members (student unions, guilds and
associations) submitting motions. The motions can be on any issue that has
a
direct or indirect affect on students. As the elected NUS Students with
Disabilities (SWD) Officer my direct concern are motions passed that NUS
are
then mandated to work and campaign on that have a beneficial affect on the
lives and educational opportunities of all disabled students.
One of the problems NUS face are our student union officers are
elected and may not be fully aware of all the issues relevant to disabled
students (that includes myself). If we miss the window of opportunity to
submit motions to the SWD annual conference we lose another year and the
officers change - the process starts again. If we have good motions passed
they then form the policy NUS are mandated to campaign and work on and I
(or
whoever) the elected officer is, has to work on. Being a political elected
animal nice soft fluffy motions / policy makes my life easy. Unfortunately
for me being a dedicated activist for disability rights 'Inclusion not
Exclusion' I do not do nice or fluffy and will work my socks off for the
students I represent.
I am therefore asking for your help as the experts who unlike us
elected officers who just jet in for a year then out again, you guys work
everyday at the coal face, day in and day out and are so aware of all the
issues. At times you must be very frustrated by the system, the restraints
and the lack of equality you must come across in your everyday work
supporting SWD students.. NUS can help you, as if we are fully aware of the
issues, pass policy on them, then we NUS are both free and mandated to
campaign actively on those issue without fear of reprisal, as we are not
employed - we can rock the boat - I defiantly will rock the boat.
As the sole full time person working on disability issues within
NUS
- I have no research or support staff - I'm it. I own up to not being
totally knowledgeable in all areas. One of the areas my knowledge is
lacking
is all the various funding (or lack of) that's available for disabled
students within FE prior (if ever) they reach the opportunity to access
DSA's in HE.
Therefore with your help if you are prepared to highlight the major
issues - I will endeavour to make sure they are covered by motions and
submitted to SWD Conference via the democratic process. Then if passed they
become the policy that NUS are committed to campaign and work on. Time is
tight the deadline for submitting motions is next Friday 22.11.2002 at 5pm
-
here are the Important SWD Conference Dates.
Friday 22nd November 2002 Close of Motions
Friday 13th December 2002 Close of Nominations
Friday 24th January 2003 Close of Amendments
Friday 24th January 2003 Close of Registration
Thursday 23rd January 2003 Drafting Commission
Monday 10th February to Wednesday 12th February 2003 SWD Conference
- Blackpool
If you feel you are able to help highlight the issues - I
personally
would be very grateful and so ultimately would all the disabled students
that policy passed by NUS would benefit.
If you could also help and assist in facilitating SWD students
attending the SWD conference from you colleges and universities that would
be brilliant. You would be amazed at the number of times I am told when I
phone Student Unions - we don't have any disabled students so cant send
anyone to SWD Conference (its free for one self defining delegate plus
enabler if required, also free - from every college / university who are
NUS
members). They have the disabled students they just don't see or want to
see
them. Whereas you guys see them everyday in your working environment and
that's why I value your help, advice and options.
I have attached some information on writing and submitting motions
to NUS SWD Conference for your information that I have sent to some
colleges
/ universities who are active - not a lot. So any help you guys can give me
in getting more relevant motions to SWD Conference would be much
appreciated
and would ultimately benefit all the disabled students - we all represent.
Thank you all in anticipation of any help you can give. I am
contactable via email [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> and my mobile numbers are 07930 556058 or 07967
479227.
Kindest Regards
Barry Farleigh
NUS - SWD Officer
<< File: SWD Motions.doc >>
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