Assessor's Guide to JCQ Access Arrangements - 20 Jul 2026 to 20 Jul 2027: Castiglione Consulting Ltd

The Assessor’s Guide to JCQ Access Arrangements is a practical on-demand course designed for assessors who already hold appropriate qualifications or professional status to carry out access arrangements assessments.

The course focuses on the assessor’s role within the JCQ access arrangements process. It covers the principles underpinning access arrangements, when assessment evidence is required, the distinction between Form 8 and other evidence routes, and the importance of the centre-led process.

Participants are guided through what must be in place before assessment, including assessor credentials, the relationship between assessor and centre, and why Form 8 Part 1 must be completed before assessment. The course then considers how to select relevant test evidence, including reading speed, writing speed, cognitive processing/fluency, spelling, and Language Modifier evidence.

A substantial part of the course focuses on reporting assessment evidence clearly and accurately in Form 8 Part 2. This includes a guided walkthrough of Part 2, use of standard scores, avoiding common reporting errors, and understanding that Part 2 is the assessor’s report for JCQ access arrangements rather than a diagnostic report.

The course also covers liaison with the SENCo or Access Arrangements Coordinator, wording recommendations carefully, and considering access arrangements within wider SpLD diagnostic assessment reports. The final section uses practical case studies to explore common pitfalls, including assessing before Part 1 is complete, treating diagnosis as automatic evidence, ignoring normal way of working, and overclaiming recommendations.

The course includes video lessons, downloadable assessor resources, knowledge checks, a Form 8 Part 2 spot-the-errors activity, and case study exercises with suggested answers. A certificate is issued once all course content has been completed and completion has been verified.

By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:

• explain the assessor’s role within the centre-led JCQ access arrangements process
• identify when assessment evidence is required and distinguish between Form 8, Form 9, specialist evidence, and centre-delegated arrangements
• recognise what must be in place before an access arrangements assessment is carried out, including completion of Form 8 Part 1 and evidence of the assessor’s qualifications
• select relevant assessment evidence by linking the arrangement being considered to the appropriate area of need, such as reading speed, writing speed, cognitive processing/fluency, spelling, or language comprehension/vocabulary
• interpret and report relevant standardised scores accurately within Form 8 Part 2
• distinguish between the role of Form 8 Part 2 and a wider diagnostic assessment report
• identify common errors in access arrangements assessment evidence and Form 8 Part 2 reporting
• liaise appropriately with the SENCo or Access Arrangements Coordinator while maintaining clear professional boundaries
• word access arrangements recommendations carefully, particularly within wider diagnostic assessment reports
• apply course principles to practical case examples involving normal way of working, centre evidence, private reports, and incomplete pre-assessment information

This course is intended for assessors who already hold an appropriate qualification to carry out access arrangements assessments.

Delegates should have a working knowledge of standardised assessment, standard scores, and SpLD assessment practice. They should also have some familiarity with the JCQ access arrangements process, although the course revisits the key principles and evidence routes relevant to the assessor’s role.

The course is suitable for:

• specialist teacher assessors with a current SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate
• access arrangements assessors with an appropriate Level 7 qualification or equivalent training
• HCPC-registered psychologists involved in access arrangements assessment
• diagnostic assessors who wish to strengthen their understanding of JCQ access arrangements recommendations and evidence requirements

The course is not designed as initial assessor training and does not qualify delegates to become access arrangements assessors.