At Louise Dawson PMDT, we provide trusted educational assessments in UAE to support schools, parents, and students. Whether you are seeking clarity on learning needs, SEN requirements, or progress monitoring, our assessments give you the insight you need to move forward with confidence.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is a key consortium of seven providers of qualifications in the United Kingdom. JCQ ensures that the exams and qualifications offered by its member organizations meet rigorous standards and are recognized nationally and internationally.
JCQ plays a crucial role in the development and administration of GCSEs, A-levels, and vocational qualifications, setting the regulations and procedures that schools and colleges follow.
Louise has studied and is qualified and certified to support learners under the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).
This certification reflects Louise’s expertise, and her commitment to maintaining the highest standards in educational support. This ensures all learners receive the best possible guidance and assistance.
Louise conducts training and mentoring on the implementation of Exam Access Support. Where to the rules, what policies you need, how to maintain paperwork and prepare for a JCQ Audit.
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2023-24 Update
These students need extra support to achieve their learning objectives. Teachers may use tailored methods, provide additional resources, or modify the learning environment. In some cases, students without identified special needs also qualify for accommodations, such as using a word processor or working in a separate room.
These students have documented physical disabilities or conditions that limit their ability to participate fully in exams without adjustments or accommodations. For example, some students cannot write by hand, while others need alternative exam locations because they use a wheelchair.
These students experience recognised difficulties in social interactions and communication, which can affect their exam performance and require specific accommodations. For example, some students have Autism, while others struggle with exam anxiety that inhibits their performance.
These students live with diagnosed emotional or psychological conditions that affect their exam performance, so they need supportive measures to manage stress and anxiety. In some cases, conditions such as ADHD require additional support to ensure fair access to exams.
These students have documented special educational needs that create cognitive, physical, or emotional challenges and require specific exam arrangements. For example, conditions such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, or Dysgraphia may affect how a student demonstrates their knowledge, so they need tailored support during exams.
These students do not have a formal diagnosis but show signs that they need extra support. Schools, parents, and therapists work together through observations and discussions to assess whether Exam Access Accommodations are appropriate. Many parents choose our student assessments in UAE to better understand their child’s learning needs and secure the right support.
Accommodations are put into place to enable a student equal and fair opportunity to access formal examinations, in line with their peers. Students with specific learning barriers are disadvantaged by standard exams and EAA rectifies these challenges providing equity.
Students are allowed to use a computer to type their exam responses instead of writing by hand.
This is particularly helpful for those with handwriting difficulties, physical disabilities, or specific learning needs.
Extra time is allocated to students to complete their exams.
This accommodation is provided to those who require a slower pace due to learning disabilities, processing speed challenges, or physical or emotional needs.
A scribe writes down the student’s dictated answers during the exam.
This assistance is beneficial for students with physical disabilities, severe handwriting issues, or other conditions that impact their ability to write.
A designated person reads the exam questions aloud to the student.
This accommodation supports students with visual impairments, reading difficulties, or other conditions that affect their ability to read text independently.
For years 7 to 9 the Head of Inclusion / SENCo can grant internal EAA based on their expertise and experience.
External documentation is not always required. They are agreed following student, parent, teacher, leadership, and therapist input (where appropriate).
For years 10-13, to be eligible for EAA during formal external assessments students must reach a certain criteria during Year 9.
The decisions on these assessments is taken through consultation with student, parent, teachers and the Inclusion Team and a known history of need.
Parents should not seek external validation from therapists without consultation of the Inclusion Team. Not all external validation is recognised by the UK Exam Boards.
Louise Dawson’s qualifications are recognised by the UK Exam Boards.
Schools should reduce the anxiety and expense to the family surrounding external assessment and will support and advise of different options and costs appropriately.
The UK Examination Boards require schools to keep a record of the EAA taken by a student throughout their academic career in order to prove that this is a student’s “normal way of working”.
For example, if a student is allocated EAA of a laptop but then does not use it the right to use needs to be removed.
A student in Year 7-9 is deemed old enough to decide upon their use of EAA.
Schools should be committed to ensuring that students understand their rights and will make appropriate recommendations.
It is common for Year 7-9 students to refuse their support and their decision has to be complied with.
The Inclusion Team will work closely with the student on an ongoing basis and it is our experience that by the time the student really ‘needs’ the EAA they often request it.
Louise Dawson is not an Educational Psychologist or medical professional. She is a qualified & experienced Mainstream and Special Needs Educator. She is also a qualified Educational Tester registered with the British Psychological Society (RTQ523138). The company is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA 631325) and Dubai Economic Department (DED 969248).