Clare, are you sure that the course involves 45 teaching weeks? It might be the case that the teaching runs through the standard academic year and then students are allowed an extended period in which to submit their dissertations (this often happens on Masters courses). In which case, the student might be able to manage with rather fewer hours of support in the final section of the course. The general principle, though, is that once the non-medical helpers allowance and the general allowance has been exhausted, support for the student is no longer the responsibility of the LEA. (I'm assuming here that the problem is money rather than a refusal of the LEA to recognise courses running outside of the standard academic year).

Regards, Bernard

Bernard Doherty
Assessor
East Anglia Regional ACCESS Centre
Anglia Polytechnic University
East Road
Cambridge CB1 1PT

01223 363271 x2534
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----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Clare Hughes

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 4:01 PM

I have a student who is blind and who depends on the DSA for his support for his music tech HND - he is about to pass and will get a place on the 'top up' BA, with us

We have used all of his allowance to provide specialist teaching / support for him whilst he has been on the degree - the funds have only just been adequate. The top up degree will take 45 weeks rather than the 30 of the HND, but my student will need the same if not more weekly support, his DSA funds will not cover this.

It seems unfair that the DSA funds do not cover a course that is of longer duration and I'd be grateful for some advice as to how colleagues have managed this situation

many thanks