Hi Emma,

 

Have recently joined Kingston University having spent ten (long) years dealing with DSA’s for an LEA. DSA funding is only for a “designated” course at HE level. In addition the DfES guidance to LEA’s has been that provision of DSA funding should not be provided “well in advance of the start of the course”, although “There is no bar under the Regulation to making such payments in advance of the student’s actual attendance on his course”. I know this contradicts a bit and is open to interpretation as to what exactly is “well in advance”! At the LEA I worked at the decision was based upon once they had a definite unconditional place (i.e. after A Levels or mid August for gap year students in general). My feelings are that this discretion is there, where a student due to his/her disability may need training on equipment or specialist software so that they are familiar with it for the start of the course.

 

However, my feeling here is that the entrance test is not a designated course (as it would not form pat of the HE designated course itself) and therefore, would not attract LEA DSA funding. Check with the LEA by all means but I’m sure they won’t assist with DSA funding. It may also be worth checking with the prospective students FE College to see if they could assist.

 

Hope this may help.

 

Regards

 

 

Phil Tull

 

 

Dear all

 

Has anyone had experience of providing support (in this case, in the form of a reader as the student is visually impaired) for a student wanting to enter higher education who needs to prepare and sit an English Language test (either the IELTS or the Cambridge Proficiency Test)?   Does the DSA stretch to cover these costs?  Or have institutions met these costs in the past?  It’s more the preparation that is the key here, the test itself can be sorted out hopefully.  

 

Any previous experience would be really useful.

 

Emma

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