The AAC Exams Access Working Group is a group of professionals, parents/carers and suppliers of AAC equipment from across the UK, who have experience of AAC exams access arrangements for a range of key stages. The group meets 2-3 times annually to discuss best practice and to develop guidance for parents/carers and educational settings on requesting exam access arrangements for those young people using any form of AAC for communication and to access the curriculum. 

The group has published several documents and guides which are updated annually and include case studies of good practice. 

Why is the Working Group Needed? 

Every young person should have the right to demonstrate their academic ability using the most suitable access method. Students using AAC may require independent access to tests and exams using a variety of access adaptations. The adaptations required will be unique to each individual student and must reflect their normal way of working in the classroom. This working group has begun to look at how these needs should inform exams access provision under the JCQ access arrangements and reasonable adjustments The group is considering all other national testing guidelines and the impact they have on the young person on the access to all exams and testing from key stage 1 (KS1) onwards for students who rely on AAC.

Who leads the working group?

The key core members of the working group include the following people:

Laura Baggley, Assistant Head of Education/Specialist AAC Teacher, CandLE.

Marion Stanton, Head of Education, CandLE.

Saffron Murphy-Mann, AAC Consultant, Saff Mann AAC and Communication Matters Trustee.

Laura Kilvington-Smith, Kent CAT Teacher, Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology Service.

All members of the group work to support and develop access to examinations for those who use AAC. 

How are CandLE involved?

CandLE professionals have been involved right from the inception of the group. CandLE teachers are experts in exam adaptation for those using AAC.

Downloadable Documents:

Top Tips for AAC Use and Exams

AAC Exams Access Guidance

Tips for Using Grid 3 in Exams

AAC Exam Access KS1 and KS2