Thanks Bernard,
I hope that this does help. There are more details on the work of the QA
group at the website at the end of this email. I think contact with HEI's
could be helped along by setting up a database of contact details.
Another need is feedback from LEAs: It would seem sensible (depending on
your viewpoint) that after the system has been improved to the point where
all stakeholders can have confidence in the system that LEAs will be advised
that they should always copy the award/offer letter to the student. A
suggestion has been made that once the QA system is in place that the LEA
should only deny or amend neeeds assessment recommendations in exceptional
circumstances and that when they do so they should advise the assessor of the
reasons for that decision. This would 'complete the circle' and provide
useful feedback to the assessor.
NB Despite what some may think, this suggestion is not made to keep St John
too busy on Fridays to come up with interesting ideas for discussion.
I received this from the DfES last week "it was also agreed to set up a
QApage on the DfES website to allow dialogue between the QAG and
stakeholders in the DSA process, including students. This is now up and
running. Thereare links on each of the three administrators areas - 'for
alladministrators', 'for LEAs' and 'for HEIs'. The link on each section
reads"Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) Quality Assurance Group". Users
should<click on this link and it will take them through to the DSAQAG page. A
further link will shortly be made available on the 'students
withdisabilities' page."
NB I tried to follow these links on Friday but could not find them. The page
you need is directly accessible at the following URL.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/dsa_.shtml
Mick Trott
In a message dated 09/02/03 18:06:16 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< As Bernard suggested, I can imagine that it is difficult in large
universities to get the specific information, it just amamzed me that few,
if any, assessors have tried to contact me - the only queries I have
received relate to how much a dyslexic tutor would charge per hour - yet
they gaily write into their assessments fine detail about the student's
workload.
Michael's comment about QA views is welcome - after all the only point of
this is to get a[ccurately assessed] support for students in need.
john.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Trott
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 07/02/03 18:45
Subject: Re: A suggestion/Contact with HEIs
This topic came up in discussion of the DfES Quality Assurance group on
DSA
needs assessments just this week. From adoption of the QA group's
recommendations assessments will be required to *demonstrate* contact
with
the HEI - that answers your complaint. In return it was proposed that
there
will be a requirement on HEI's to provide assessors with full course
details
including hours of study, mode of delivery, facilities available and
much
more (The OU already do this when they request an assessment). If the
HEI
does not supply this info and a request is recorded - it will be back in
your
court.
How you respond to the request will be up to you - fill in a form each
time,
put the info on your website under the course code or get your
departments to
provide the info now.
It sounds like you already know what information should be considered. I
would expect the assessors/centres to make it known what they would need
once
the system is in place.
Mick Trott
>>
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