Access Office

A needs assessment is carried out by the Educational Support Officer, whereby they discuss your individual needs and how these needs may impact upon your education and experience in further education. Documentation such as consultants letters or educational psychologist reports are  important documents in which the Educational Support Officer refers to and bases decisions made about what type of supports can/should be provided to you throughout your time in DCFE.

This needs assessment is carried out with you, and will incorporate an assessment of your needs in further education and will also recommend Reasonable Accommodations if and when you have college exams. It's important to ask the Educational Support Officer what type of exam accommodations you may be entitled to.

In the needs assessment, you and the Educational Support Officer will discuss what supports you wish to avail of during your pre-booked appointments and will also bear in mind particular demands of the course that you are doing.

The needs assessment will also involve recommendations for Assistive Technology by the Educational Support Coordinator (Catherine Joyce) who consults with the Educational Support Officer and refers to relevant medical or educational psychologist documentation provided at the time of the needs assessment.

After the needs assessment, a funding application will be sent to SOLAS, where funding may be granted for the Educational Support service you are availing of. This funding is vital to the running of Educational Support services in the college, for the purchasing of specialist assistive technology and transportation services for students with significant needs. SOLAS decide if the funding is successful.