Information for Needs Assessors

Where students cannot afford or may experience financial hardship contributing towards the cost of DSA recommended equipment, means-tested support is available via the University's Hardship Fund which opens near the end of October each academic year. Students are advised to email studentsandmoney@winchester.ac.uk for more information.

A small stock of equipment (e.g. laptops with screen reading assistive technology installed such as Claro Read and Read & Write) is available for short-term loan (no longer than 8 weeks) for disabled students. This service may be used by students who are in the process of applying for DSAs or hardship funding (to cover the cost of the £200 contribution) or during periods when personal equipment is being fixed and the AT provider is unable to provide courtesy equipment. 

We also offer a laptop loan scheme which enables all students to borrow a laptop for use on or off campus for up to 24 hours. These laptops do not have any assistive software installed. 

We do not have lecture capture facilities widely available across campus. Whilst some lecturers record themselves and distribute their recordings to their students, this is not widely practiced. We record lecturer lead sessions through MS TEAMS and Stream. Lectures are then uploaded to the virtual learning environment (Canvas) after the taught session. Seminars and sessions where students are contributing or leading the session will not be recorded. There may be other times where recording may breach confidentiality where sessions will not be recorded. Students will be advised if this is the case in accordance with our Inclusive Learning Policy, all students are permitted to record tutor-led teaching sessions using their own personal recording equipment. 

All students enrolled at the University are able to download a personal copy of the full Office Pro Plus license on Office 365. One Drive is also included which provides 50GB of storage for files. 

There are a number of open access multi-function printers on the University campus which have scanning and photocopying functionality. Students need to pay for printing and photocopying. Scanning is free.

The following assistive technology applications are currently available on all computers in open access areas and computer-based teaching rooms across campus:

• Inspiration 9
• TextHelp Read and Write II
• ClaroRead Plus
• Mindview is available on a limited number of open access computers.  

Students with disclosed disabilities can also access JAWS, and Dragon Naturally speaking at selected times such as exams. The software available on campus is not currently available for students' personal use on their own computing devices.   The continuation of DSAs funded assistive software is advisable. 

We provide introductory group drop-in sessions for some assistive technology, but this resource is limited. These are not full training sessions or set-up sessions, but a chance for staff and students to see if particular software might meet their needs. 

We also provide guidance and links to training for DSA approved and free access Assistive Technology through our virtual learning environment (Canvas).  

The University of Winchester will be implementing a range of approaches to support these students. The University will consider the barriers a student faces to accessing their programme of study. as identified within their Needs Assessment Report (NAR) and use this to form the basis of our discussion with the students about their support through an internal shared document called a ‘Learning Agreement’. 

The University is committed to making all learning resources as accessible as possible. As per our Inclusive Learning Policy, we aim to purchase adequate quantities of books to allow the spread of loan types and for all core texts, make e-books available alongside the printed copies as default, wherever possible. Where suitable resources are not available, our library will be able to offer assistance upon request. 

As part of our inclusive agenda, staff are encouraged to follow the principles of inclusive document design and consider the accessibility of all resources at the course design and (re)validation stages. 

We are also subscribed to the full online document conversion tool, SensusAccess Robobraille which gives students and staff self-sufficiency in creating accessible formats. 

The Disability and Inclusion Team and Library team have access to the RNIB Bookshare sytem.  

We will make reasonable adjustments to assessment where need is identified within needs assessment reports and/or diagnostic assessments. With programme agreement this may include alternative assessment/mode of delivery and/or the provision of additional support in exams. Exam support may include but is not limited to:

• Additional time
• Rest breaks
• Use of a PC and Assistive Technology such as TextHelp or Dragon if applicable
• Provision of reader/scribe support

For more information please refer our Assessment Regulations

Are students with disabilities allowed extensions to assignment deadlines?

We understand that students may have mitigating circumstances due to their disability, such as the need for extended course deadlines or disability-related absence and aim to provide clear, transparent advice and support in these cases. You can find more information and read our Extenuating Circumstances Policy. 

Do you offer marking adjustments e.g. markers to identify students with SpLD so that spelling and grammar errors are not marked down?

We do not operate a two-tier or 'sympathetic' marking system. Instead, emphasis is on the utilisation of support and the implementation of reasonable adjustments and inclusive marking practices. We provide markers with good practice guidance on marking which supports all students.  

Information for External Providers

If you are an external provider who has been assigned to a University of Winchester student please contact disability@winchester.ac.uk  for an external provider pack.

The University of Winchester does not have any provision for Band 4 NMH support. 

The University of Winchester will continue to offer in-house provision of the following forms of DSA funded band four NMH:

• Specialist One to One Study Skills Support (SpLD and AS)
• Specialist Mentoring (Mental Health and AS)
• Assistive Technology Training

All NMH are permanently employed by the University and have enhanced DBS checks. All one to one support sessions are provided in private, confidential spaces on the King Alfred Campus. 

To arrange support students should email disability@winchester.ac.uk if they need require assistance. Students should not contact individual members of staff. Needs assessors are requested to use disability@winchester.ac.uk as the contact details for the disability support team. We are unable to arrange support prior to students' arrival at the University.

We are not registered with DSA QAG for NMH Bands 1-3. Where students are entitled to such support through DSAs, needs assessors should refer to the DSA QAG database. We do not have a preferred second provider for band four NMH support or a preferred provider for any other DSA funded support.

At this time The University of Winchester is unable to accept any recommendations for Specialist One to One Study Skills Support (SpLD and AS) and Specialist Mentoring (Mental Health and AS).

To find out all about how we support disabled students with additional accommodation requirements, please see our students with disabilities webpage