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Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD): dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

What support is available?

You may be eligible for Disabled Students' Allowances, which can contribute towards the costs of specialist study skills, and useful technologies and other aids to help with your studies.   

If you have an SpLD, please register via e:vision so we can put in place a Student Support Plan which will automatically share recommended academic adjustments with your school/department. 

Students in a lecture theatre

What supporting information do I need?

You will need to provide us with one of the following documents:

  • An assessment report completed by an Educational Psychologist or specialist teacher (with an active Assessment Practising Certificate – APC)
  • Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) or report from an appropriately qualified medical professional
  • A diagnostic report from a psychiatrist (ADHD only)
  • A needs assessment report carried out as part of an application for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)

We will also accept A JCQ ‘Access Arrangements’ form (also known as a Form 8) as supporting information to access a Basic Student Support Plan.

Don’t have supporting information?

Students can arrange an independent educational psychology assessment, which are conducted by external companies; Educational Guidance Services is a local provider. There is a cost to this service. You may be eligible for a refund to cover some or all of the cost of the assessment from the Student Support Fund.

A formal diagnosis for ADHD must be started through your GP, who will refer you to a specialist service. To account for how long assessment wait times are, we may be able to accept a referral letter from your GP confirming that you are on the ADHD assessment pathway.

We encourage you to send us any supporting information you have about a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), and we will review it and let you know if this is something we can accept.

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