Every eligible student is offered a Student Support Plan which, with the written consent of the student, is sent to their academic team, or nominated person to share with appropriate academic staff.

The Support Plans are not applicable to professional placements, if support is required in those environments the student will need to discuss this with placement co-ordinators and Programme Leaders.

A Support Plan is written following an appointment that the student will have had with a Disability Support Adviser.

What is the purpose of a Support Plan?

The Student Support Plan will state the student’s diagnosis and summarise the main challenges affecting the student, relating to their academic study, because of their condition.

It will put recommendations in place for accommodations that the student may require during exams, lectures, seminars or self-directed study. 

Do students have to provide evidence?

Yes. Before a Support Plan is put in place a student will have needed to provide official evidence of their diagnosis which states it is a long term condition, in accordance with the Disability Act 2010 – this could be a letter from their GP or consultant or a Diagnostic Report from an Educational Psychologist or a Psychiatrist.

How are the recommendations and accommodations agreed?

These are agreed in conjunction with the student and the discussion that takes place in their appointment with an adviser.

The adviser will consider the medical evidence provided by the student and will discuss how their condition affects them. No two students are the same, so adjustments considered reasonable for one student may not be suitable for another with the same diagnosis.

See further information on reasonable adjustments here.  

When will I receive a copy of the Support Plan?

Student Support Plans will only be circulated once we have received appropriate evidence, a completed permissions form and the student has approved the content of their plan.