Supporting information for specific learning difficulties
You may need to provide supporting information to receive support from Disabilitiy Services for a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.
If you have a different disability, see the page on supporting information for all other disabilities.
Learn about each type of supporting information, what level of support you can be given based on the supporting information you provide, and whether it can help you to receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
University exams are different to school exams, and we do not guarantee to match all previous arrangements. Find out more about adjustments on the exam access arrangements page.
Letter or document from your school, college, or previous university detailing previous exam arrangements
- This could include a JCQ ‘Access Arrangement’ form (Form 8) or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) report.
- This is not sufficient information about your disability, and is likely to mean that you cannot access some support or adjustments. However, we may recommend some exam adjustments such as extra time or the use of a PC where we have seen you have had these arrangements before.
- To access further support, you will need to provide further diagnostic information such as a full psychological assessment report. Find out more about what information you need to provide by emailing Disability Services at disability@leeds.ac.uk
- This form of supporting information is not suitable for DSA.
Psychological assessment report
- This may be completed by an Educational Psychologist or specialist teacher with an active Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) which confirms a diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty, for example, dyslexia.
- We may recommend a range of exam adjustments and University reasonable adjustments for learning and teaching. The Disability Advisory Team will provide recommendations of support and adjustments to your school.
- These documents are usually accepted for DSA, but if your report was carried out before your 16th birthday, contact them through the gov.uk website for more advice.
Needs Assessment report carried out as part of an application for DSA
- This report is likely to be carried out as part of an appliction for DSA.
- We may recommend a range of exam adjustments and University reasonable adjustments for learning and teaching. The Disability Advisory Team will provide recommendations of support and adjustments to your school.
- The Needs Assessment report is suitable for DSA, unless you are changing funding body. Please check with your funding body.
Results of an SpLD/dyslexia screening test, for example, QuickScan
- QuickScan is a computerised screening programme intended to reveal whether you might show signs of a specific learning difficulty. It also indicates your preferred learning style, which can help you to study more effectively.
- This is not sufficient information about a disability and is not suitable for DSA.
- If your screening test has indicated a likelihood of an SpLD then you will need to provide further diagnostic information such as a full psychological assessment report.
- Find out more about what information you need to provide by emailing Disability Services at disability@leeds.ac.uk.