HEFCE Circular 23/96
Special Initiative to Encourage High Quality Provision for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (SLDD): Funded Projects
| To | Heads of HEFCE-funded Institutions Heads of DENI-funded Universities Principals of FE Colleges in receipt of HEFCE funds |
| Of interest to | those responsible for Planning, policy, and provision of support for students with learning difficulties and disabilities |
| Reference | 23/96 |
| Publication Date | December 1996 |
| Response | No response is required |
| Enquiries to | Richard Townend Telephone 0117 931 7115 E-mail r.townend@hefce.ac.uk |
Executive Summary
1. The Council has agreed to allocate £4.92 million in support of 31 development plans under its special initiative to encourage high quality provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Successful projects are listed at Annex B.
2. Approximately £1 million has been retained to fund developmental work in the second and third years of this three year initiative.
Background
3. The Council is committed to widening access to higher education and has supported two previous initiatives, in 1993-94 and 1994-95, to increase provision for students with disabilities. To build on the success of these initiatives, and in light of the Council's new responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a further £6 million was allocated for a three year initiative from 1996-97 to 1998-99.
4. Circular 9/96 invited HEFCE-funded institutions to submit development plans based on a portfolio of activities. Institutions were asked to describe in broad terms the elements for which funding was sought, in the context of the institutions' overall programme of support for students with disabilities.
5. Eighty five development plans were received, involving over 100 higher education institutions and a significant number of further education colleges, seeking a total of approximately £18 million.
Assessment
6. Development plans were assessed by the Council's SLDD Advisory Group, whose membership is at Annex A. Two members of the Advisory Group assessed each plan on a scale of 0-5 against the criteria listed in HEFCE Circular 9/96. Plans were ranked in order, based on the average score from both members.
7. The Advisory Group based its recommendations to the Council on the ranked order which provided a strong indication of the relative quality of each plan. The Advisory Group selected only those development plans, or parts of plans, which it felt would best assist the Council in achieving the initiative's aims and objectives, and which most closely addressed the assessment criteria.
Outcomes
8. Following the recommendations of the Advisory Group, the Council agreed to support 31 development plans totalling £4.92 million. These are summarised at Annex B.
9. The Council has retained approximately £1 million for developmental work in the second and third years of the initiative. The SLDD Advisory Group will advise the Council on the use of this funding.
Monitoring and Evaluation
10. Funding in years two and three of the initiative will depend on satisfactory progress towards each project's aims and objectives.
11. The Council is currently considering the monitoring and evaluation of the initiative. Institutions that receive special initiative funding will be notified of arrangements early in 1997.
Enquiries
12. Enquiries should be made to Richard Townend on 0117 931 7115, e-mail r.townend@hefce.ac.uk.
Annex A
Membership of the SLDD Advisory Group
| Mr Cliff Allan (Chair) | Policy Division, HEFCE |
| Mr Paul Brown | National Co-ordinator for Students with Special Needs, Scotland |
| Ms Sophie Corlett | Skill (National Bureau for Students with Special Needs) |
| Professor Alan Hurst | University of Central Lancashire |
| Ms Vivienne Rivis | Higher Education Quality Council |
| Professor Jim Sandhu | University of Northumbria at Newcastle |
| Ms Liz Sutherland | Independent Consultant |
| Mr David Tupman | Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals |
| Dr Mike Wald | Standing Conference of Principals |
| Mr David Beards (Observer) | SHEFC |
| Mr Roger Carter (Observer) | HEFCW |
| Mr Chris Kempson (Observer) | DfEE |
| Ms Sandie Cusack (Secretary) | Policy Division, HEFCE |
| Mr Richard Townend (Secretary) | Policy Division, HEFCE |
Annex B
Funding for SLDD Provision for 1996-97 to 1998-99
Anglia Polytechnic University
Dr I Fenwick
Head of Student Services
01223 363271
Regional Learning Support Service
To establish a regional learning support service including an access centre; a curriculum access and research and development service; a regional learning support advisory service and campus learning support centres.
University of Bradford
Mr B Campbell
Director of Student Services
01274 384880
Dealing with Disability
To enhance specialised support for students with disabilities at pre-entry, entry and on course, through increased staff development and greater use of IT.
University of Central Lancashire
Pam Ackroyd
University Secretary
01772 892341
Towards a Whole Institution Approach on Disability and Deafness
To implement a comprehensive and systematic staff development programme to increase disability awareness, combined with improvements in the quality and effectiveness of communication support for deaf students.
City University
Robert Smith
Deputy Secretary
0171 477 8007
Joint Initiative for Development and Dissemination of High Quality Disabled Student Support
To develop new dyslexia support and to increase the dissemination of knowledge and understanding through a collaborative approach.
Coventry University
Michael Adams
Disabilities Officer
01203 838775
Enhancing the Quality of the Learning Experience for Disabled Students
To establish a disability development centre to further develop innovative approaches to curriculum and staff development
University of East Anglia
Dr R Jones
01603 592127
Learning Support for Students with Disabilities
To develop a regional network of learning support services for Pro-Vice-Chancellor students with disabilities.
University of East London
Alan Ingle
Secretary and Registrar
0181 849 3557
Setting up an Access Centre
To establish an NFAC access centre to assess students' needs, provide study support and to implement a staff development programme.
Edge Hill College of HE
Rhiannon Evans
Director for Students and Marketing
01695 584 268
A Regional Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities and Learning Difficulties
To establish a resource centre and to enhance the teaching and learning experience for students with disabilities at Edge Hill and at partner HE and FE institutions.
University of Hull
Professor David Dilks
Vice-Chancellor
01482 465 131
To Develop and Disseminate Enhanced Provision for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
To enhance the use of IT adaptive technology, develop dyslexia provision, and develop awareness of the needs of students with mental health difficulties.
University of Lancaster
Rosemary Turner
Special Needs Adviser
01524 592109
Disability Advisory/Support Services
To build on previous success by supporting a community access programme, and improving provision for students with mental health difficulties.
University of Leeds
Dr D Robinson
Registrar and Secretary
0113 233 4033
Clinical Placement Access Evaluation for Students with Physical Disabilities
To create a method for evaluating whether students with disabilities can sustain clinical placements.
Leeds Metropolitan University
Allan Osborne
Dean (Academic Quality and Development)
0113 283 2600 x3428
Enhancing Disability Provision
To enhance pre-entry and on course support for students with any disability, focusing on improved recruitment procedures and extensive staff development.
University of Leicester
Ms A Grant
Educational Development and Support Centre
0116 252 2716
Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties: A Whole Institutional Approach
To develop and further improve provision for students with mental health difficulties, and to increase the awareness, knowledge and skills of the whole academic community.
The London Institute
Dr James Clarke
Director of Student Affairs
0171 514 6000
Enhancing the Course Offer to Disabled Students
To use in-depth curriculum reviews and staff development programmes to offer all students with disabilities a realistic opportunity to study any course.
London Guildhall University
Bryan Jones
Department of Student Affairs
0171 320 1137
Assessment and Resource Centre
To improve assessment facilities for students applying for a Disabled Students Allowance and to support a resource centre for students with disabilities.
Loughborough University
Dr Ron Hinton
Senior Tutor to Students with Special Needs
01509 222770
Tactile Diagrams
To develop and extend the use of tactile diagrams and disseminate outputs across the sector.
UMIST
Mr P Stephenson
Secretary and Registrar
0161 200 3991
Promoting Provision for Students in Higher Education Through Collaboration
To merge the resources and expertise of the four Access SUMMIT institutions into a central resource base
Nene College of HE
Chris Cooper
Director of Student Services
01604 735500
Widening Access: Removing Barriers to Learning
To develop high quality learning and support for students with disabilities, focusing on students with dyslexia, sensory or physical impairments and mental health difficulties.
University of North London
Sandra Ashman
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
0171 753 5182
Quality and Equality: Extending and Enhancing Provision for Disabled and Dyslexic Students
To match new trends in teaching and learning to the needs of students with disabilities and to equip such students to achieve their employment goals.
University of Nottingham
Dr Mark Dale
0115 951 3708
Director of Learning Support Unit
Mental Health, Hidden Disabilities, and Learning Support
To implement a whole institution approach, incorporating a systematic programme of staff development, to develop provision for students with mental health difficulties and hidden
disabilities.
Nottingham Trent University
Sally Olohan
Student Care Services
0115 941 8418
Building on Strengths
To build on existing provision with emphasis on support for deaf students, staff development, and external advice and guidance.
The Open University
Professor A T Vincent
Institute of Enabling Technologies
01908 652907
Digitally Recorded Educational Audio Materials (DREAM)
To enhance the quality of audio tapes, introduce new ways of accessing audio interactively, and to disseminate knowledge across the sector.
Oxford Brookes University
Keith Cooper
Head of Student Services
01865 484650
Implementing Equal Opportunities for Disabled Students
To implement a portfolio of provision, including a package to enable students with disabilities to make full use of accessible accommodation, and a staff development programme.
University of Plymouth
Professor Les Ebdon
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
01752 232002
Access to Success
To develop provision for deaf students and students with mental health difficulties, and to disseminate knowledge throughout the South West.
Sheffield Hallam University
Geoff Layer
0114 253 3227
From Access to Assessment: An Enhanced Support Programme for Disabled Students
To enhance recruitment and support services in all stages of the Head of Access and Guidance student experience including pre-entry, transition to university and during the course.
South Bank University
Margaret Morgan
Head of Student Support Office
0171 815 6409
CD-Rom and WWW Resources for Study Skills and Staff Development
To produce integrated multi-media resources for study skills and staff development, for CD Rom and WWW distribution, aimed at staff who support students with disabilities and at the students themselves.
Southern Higher Education Consortium
Dr Mike Wald
CELT Director
La Sainte Union College of HE
01703 228761
Establishment of Southern Higher Education Consortium (Bournemouth University, Chichester Institute of HE, King Alfred's College of HE, La Sainte Union College of HE, University of Portsmouth, Southampton Institute, University of Southampton, University of Surrey)
To share knowledge, experience and best practice, from eight collaborating institutions, to enhance all aspects of disability provision and to ensure a complete range of courses is accessible regionally to students with any disability.
Staffordshire University
Sally Aldridge
Director of Welfare Services
01782 294975
High Quality Provision for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
To provide sign language support for deaf and hearing impaired students, and to support a Careers Officer to help students with disabilities to find employment.
Surrey Institute of Art and Design
Marion Wilks
Head of Academic Services
01252 732219
Enhancing the Quality of Support for Access to the Curriculum
To develop and disseminate strategies for improving intellectual and physical access to the curriculum.
University of Teesside
Mr Geoffrey Crispin
01642 342012
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic)
Increasing Access to Learning - a Student Centred Approach
To improve access to learning through a student centred approach to identifying learning difficulties and disabilities, and developing and implementing a responsive teaching, learning and assessment strategy.
University of the West of England
Dr P Wookey
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
0117 976 2514
Joint Assessment Centre
To establish a joint assessment centre for three institutions which will provide assessment, information and training for students with disabilities. The centre will be developed as an access centre.