What’s a reasonable adjustment?
A reasonable adjustment helps to reduce the effect of a disability or a physical or mental health condition, which may place an apprentice at a disadvantage compared to others.
Employers, training providers and assessment organisations (AOs) must make reasonable adjustments to ensure apprentices with disabilities or physical or mental health conditions aren’t substantially disadvantaged during training, assessment or when doing their jobs. This is a required duty as part of the Equality Act 2010.
Who are reasonable adjustments for?
Reasonable adjustments are for any apprentice with additional support needs; they aren’t only for physical disabilities.
What support is available?
During assessment, the types of adjustments offered may include changes to elements such as:
- the location and timing of the assessment.
- the format, wording, or delivery assessment activity.
- the assessment being carried out in British Sign Language, with the presence of an interpreter.
- the availability of support personnel for additional needs.
- the availability of adaptive software or hardware, or specialist equipment.
AOs make appropriate and consistent judgements to support apprentices, and ensure no one has any advantage or disadvantage over others.
Some examples of flexibilities that can be requested are:
- Anxiety: a short intro call with your assessor to help the apprentice feel more at ease.
- Dyslexia: extra time on a knowledge test or professional discussion.
- Visual impairments: use of a screen reader.
Should I use a reasonable adjustment?
If you believe an adjustment will help you undertake your assessment in a fair way, we encourage you to make use of it.
Reasonable adjustments benefit apprentices by:
- Giving the opportunity to demonstrate their occupational competence.
- Ensuring the assessment process is fair and the activity is valid.
- Making sure the result of their assessment is reliable, and future employers can have confidence in their skills and abilities.
- Allowing use of any necessary aids that reflect your normal ways of working and do not give an unfair advantage.
If you feel that you need support with your apprenticeship and assessment, this may be the best route for you. Every person is unique and each request will be considered individually alongside the evidence submitted.
Your training provider will be happy to support you with reasonable adjustments. They both want to support you to complete your apprenticeship and will not mind making these arrangements.
How to request a Reasonable Adjustment
See our Reasonable Adjustment and Special Consideration Policy here. To request a reasonable adjustment, complete our request form which is available on the same page.
Requests should be submitted as soon as possible to give adequate time for arrangements to be made. Evidence of the difficulty/disability will be required to support the application, along with evidence of any existing adjustments or additional support provided by the employer or training provider.
Need more advice?
If you’re not sure what to request, apprentices can speak to their coach or contact the Safeguarding Officer at their training provider – it’s part of their job to help you access any support you need.
