Scottish Government

ACTION POINTS

LEAD

UPDATE

STATUS

Retain the status quo, improve IAG and monitor the situation with a view to developing specific guidance on eligibility for DSA for other types of access courses.

SG & SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

COMPLETED

Retain the current eligibility criteria for part-time students. Ensure that the sector is made more aware of the flexibility within the current rules should a part-time student encounter problems completing their course due to their disability.

SG & SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

Using events such as the HE Disability Advisers network and the ATNET network to promote the new guidance and explain some of the changes.

Explained some of the changes to the guidance in student information packs such as the NUS Freshers pack.

SG will continue to use the DSSG workshops to improve awareness.

COMPLETED

Improve the information, advice and guidance which is issued to the sector and used to increase awareness of current eligibility criteria and rules for arrangements in place for exceptional cases.

SG & SAAS

As above

COMPLETED

Extend NMPH provision to voluntary tutorials.

SG & SAAS

As above

COMPLETED

SAAS to produce guidance on the rules governing this matter and devise a form which could be signed by the lecturer to ensure student attendance.

SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

The new form will also be developed in time for the start of the academic year.

SAAS to continue to consider individual requests for earlier payments where they receive evidence from the Disability Advisor supporting the request.

SAAS

On-going and process continues to be accepted by SAAS

COMPLETED

SAAS to give further consideration as to whether or not there is a need to produce a standard form to claim for additional support outwith term-time.

SAAS

Considered and will not be going ahead with this.

COMPLETED

The updated guidance should explain the current and any new rules associated with outwith term-time support. This information should also explain why there might be some grey areas/different procedures which might be in place in certain circumstances and these could be highlighted through the use of case studies.

SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

COMPLETED

As the upper threshold for the NMPH allowance has now been increased with effect from academic year 2008/09 the Scottish Government does not believe that there is a need to further increased this threshold. However the Scottish Government will continue to up-rate this threshold each year in line with all other forms of student support.

SG

The new thresholds have all been up-rated for the new academic year.

COMPLETED

A DSSG sub-group, led by SAAS, has been established to examine issues relating to the roles and responsibilities of NMPH in more detail and will provide advice back to the DSSG over the coming months.

SAAS

This group have had two meetings. SAAS will shortly be issuing a questionnaire to all institutions and the responses will help to form the basis of new guidance.

ONGOING

Scottish Government and SAAS to consider the Review team's recommendation to reduce the mileage rate from 40 pence per mile to 30 pence to bring it more in line with the rest of the UK. As this would apply to all students and not just those claiming DSA, the Scottish Government and SAAS will consider this change for all students in the student support system as part of the consultation on the Loans to Grant scheme.

SG and SAAS

The consultation period has now closed.

The SG response to the consultation was published on 7th October 2009 and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/12121638/sg

The Cabinet Secretary made a statement to Parliament regarding the three options outlined in the response on XXXX.

SG and SAAS will now consider issues regarding travel in light of this statement.

ONGOING

SAAS to consider if the new 'STEPS' IT system can improve the on-line application form process for applying for the DSA.

SAAS

The Scottish Government to invite representatives from NUS Scotland and SKILL Scotland to attend the DSSG workshops in order to discuss possible improvements to communication strategies between students and staff.

SG

At the recent workshops students were invited to attend. Limited response. However examples of good practice will be contained within the guidance.

SG, Skill Scotland and NUS met in May to discuss to discuss on going improvements to communications. It was agreed that the SG would provide information for NUS booklets and Freshers packs.

'Helping You Met the cost of learning' - Advice for Disabled Students booklets and leaflets have been issued to the sector.

COMPLETED

Scottish Government to consider the introduction of an IT element within the living cost support for all students in the student support system as part of the consultation on the Loans to Grant scheme.

SG

The consultation period has now closed.

The SG response to the consultation was published on 7th October 2009 and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/12121638/sg

The Cabinet Secretary made a statement to Parliament regarding the three options outlined in the response on XXXX.

SG and SAAS will now consider issues regarding travel in light of this statement.

ONGOING

SAAS to consider raising awareness of the forms of evidence that they are willing to accept.

SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

COMPLETED

If a student requires evidence of a diagnosis for the purpose of the DSA, or to qualify for particular reasonable adjustments, then the institution should continue to consider the use of their Discretionary Funds, DSP or other institution funds to cover the cost of this diagnosis. Students should not be asked to pay for a diagnosis.

INSTITUTIONS & DSSG

SG and DSSG will continue to monitor the situation.

ONGOING

The Scottish Government and SAAS to clearly articulate the appeals process as part of the proposed revised guidance material.

SAAS & SG

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

COMPLETED

ACTION POINTS

LEAD

UPDATE

STATUS

SAAS to clarify guidance for exceptional cases, eg whereby a student's condition becomes so severe that they might not be able to complete the course within the agreed timeframe.

SAAS & SG

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

COMPLETED

Once the DSSG has approved the recommendations from this sub-group the Scottish Government will arrange for the 'Employing Support Workers' booklet to be updated to provide more accurate and useful information.

DSSG & SG

This group have had two meetings. SAAS will shortly be issuing a questionnaire to all institutions and the responses will help to form the basis of new guidance.

ONGOING

The institution and the student should come to an agreement, as part of the DSA needs assessment, about the specific training requirements for the student. Thus allowing both the institution and the student the flexibility to take this forward in a manner which suits both parties. There would also be a record of the agreement which would help with any possible disagreements.

INSTITUTIONS, DSSG & SG

This was discussed at the DSSG workshops last year and a number of institutions have included this information in their toolkit application.

The guidance on this issue will be covered in the new Toolkit Guidance which will be issued in early 2010.

Discussed this matter at the ATNET network.

COMPLETED

Cases of good practice to form part of proposed guidance to the sector.

SG

This was discussed at the DSSG workshops last year and a number of institutions have included this information in their toolkit application.

The guidance on this issue will be covered in the new Toolkit Guidance which will be issued in early 2010. This guidance will contain examples of best practice and templates.

COMPLETED

Clarification will be sought as part of the annual revalidation which all institutions must submit, on the issue of training i.e. the percentage of students that have undertaken training and possibly student feedback on the training.

INSTITUTIONS, DSSG & SG

A number of institutions have included this information in their toolkit application. The guidance on this issue will be covered in the new Toolkit Guidance which will be issued in early 2010.

This guidance will contain examples of best practice and templates.

COMPLETED

Questions about provision and effectiveness of training form part of SAAS's DSA student survey which is distributed to a selection of students each year

SAAS

SAAS have completed the 2009 Student Customer Survey questionnaire - responses can be viewed at http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/dsa_customer_survey.htm

DSSG to consider the results of the responses.

ONGOING

SAAS to give further thought to the other options identified in the travel theme paper, as these will impact upon non-disabled students too.

SAAS

The Scottish Government and SAAS will continue to work together with stakeholders to produce up to date comprehensive guidance on the governing the DSA and consider how best this can be promoted to the relevant parties.

SAAS & SG

The DSSG and Disability Advisers will have an opportunity to comment on the DSA guidance and it will be updated on an annual basis.

COMPLETED

Once the pilot of Toolkit of Quality Indicators for the Assessment of Additional Needs has been evaluated, SAAS and the Scottish Government officials will consider the issues raised by the DSSG and its subgroup when considering the long term future of the Toolkit.

SAAS, SG & DSSG.

The toolkit has now formally been evaluated and the SG recommended to the DSSG that the toolkit is now rolled out. The DSSG have approved this recommendation..

The SG and SAAS have prepared guidance on the toolkit application - for discussion at Nov DSSG - envisage completed guidance will be available late 2009/early 2010.

ONGOING

The Scottish Government and SAAS to instigate a formal process for DSA exceptional cases with clear guidance and procedures, including establishing an experts group.

SG & SAAS

New guidance on the has been produced and the Validation Panel of the DSSG will act as the group of experts as and when required.

COMPLETED

The Scottish Government and SAAS to review information and guidance issued to all validated institutions, organisations and individuals to ensure exceptional cases procedures are clearly articulated.

SG & SAAS

SAAS issued new guidance to Disability Advisers on 6th August. The guidance is also available to advisers on the SAAS website.

Using events such as the HE Disability Advisers network and the ATNET network to promote the new guidance and explain some of the changes.

Explained some of the changes to the guidance in student information packs such as the NUS Freshers pack.

SG will continue to use the DSSG workshops to improve awareness.

COMPLETED

Scottish Government to provide guidance on roles and responsibilities of other agencies that provide medical support and social care to higher education students.

SG

Partnership Matters has been updated and extended to the university sector. The guidance was launched in May and is available on the SG website.

Updates on PM will provided at the DSSG to allow stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback on the guidance. The guidance will updated on a regular basis.

COMPLETED

Scottish Government should extend the guidance in Partnership Matters to higher education students and publish an updated version of Partnership Matters in time for the next academic year.

SG

Partnership Matters has been updated and extended to the university sector. The guidance was launched in May and is available on the SG website.

COMPLETED

ACTION POINTS

LEAD

UPDATE

STATUS

SAAS to consider, as part of the introduction of the new 'STEPS' IT system, methods for remedying the difficulties that the current payment system can have for the payment of multiple NMPHs.

SAAS

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the issue of interpreters for deaf students with the aid of stakeholders such as the Deaf Students Working Group, the Scottish Sensory Centre and the Equalities Unit within the Scottish Government.

SG

SAAS to continue to discuss with the DSSG and students about how the application forms and guidance can be improved upon

SAAS

Once the pilot of the Toolkit of Quality Indicators for the Assessment of Additional Needs has been evaluated consideration should be given to the validation process for institutions and its quality assurance procedures to ensure that institutions have procedures in place for effective communication with students and are complying with them.

DSSG, SG & SAAS

Scottish Government to ensure that the Student Communication Strategy reflects the needs of disabled students and of potential students.

SG

The Scottish Government and SAAS to continue to work with SDS, NUS Scotland and SKILL Scotland on matters relating to information, advice and guidance (IAG) for disabled students.

SG met with NUS and Skill on 27th May to discuss improvements to IAG. It was agreed that:

Ø SG and Skill would produce information for the NUS information booklets and Freshers packs.

Ø The SG would continue to produce 'Helping You Met the Costs of Learning' Booklet and leaflet for disabled students for this year.

Ø NUS and Skill will begin discussions with SDS about IAG for the next academic year.

Ø SG would assist at the proposed NUS/Skill conference to promote the DSA and the Toolkit.

COMPLETED

The Scottish Government and SAAS to consider to what extent SAAS DSA appeals and exceptional cases processes are relevant for other SAAS student support application processes- e.g. students who claim to be estranged from parents, not in receipt of support from parents and want to be considered as an independent student with regard to living cost support.

SAAS

SFC to consider the action points from the review relating to training for staff.

SFC

SFC will consider the action points on staff training within the wider context of its strategy on equality and diversity support in colleges and universities.

ONGOING

SFC should consider ensuring that institutions are supporting the inclusiveness agenda, particularly for disabled students, through monitoring of support for disabled students and promoting best practice. It should also consider whether this should be part of its outcome agreements with institutions.

SFC

SFC will consider this recommendation within the wider context of its strategy on equality and diversity support in colleges and universities.

ONGOING