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home About Accessibility

Accessibility

We want every learner to succeed, and we know that supporting you in any way that we can will help you achieve your goals. No matter what you need, we can help.

Here’s an idea of what we can do to make your learning go as smoothly as possible.

Accessible facilities / Access for all / Help with sight impairments / Helping with hearing impairments / Extra learning support / Frequently asked questions

A woman in a wheelchair with a Kaplan Publishing study text.

Accessible facilities

We know that everyone is different, and what you need to support your learning is unique to you. We will work with you to find solutions to help you succeed. All of our locations have:

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Close access to major transport links.

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Wheelchair accessible facilities.

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A lift if there is more than one floor to access.

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DDA compliant washrooms available.

A woman in a wheelchair going up a ramp.

Access for all

We also make sure that our classrooms and communal areas are accessible to all, with freedom to move around easily.

If needed, we are able to:

  • Provide assistance in getting around the centre including facilitating access to washrooms
  • Rearrange teaching and assessment rooms to allow wheelchair access or greater mobility
  • Provide assistance with note taking
  • Arrange use of assistive technology in exams (in accordance with Institute requirements)
  • Allow supervised rest breaks during exams
  • Provide access to a reader, scribe, or arrange for extra time for assessments.

Help with sight impairments

We are able to provide adjustments to our printed learning materials:

  • Our materials can be produced in a choice of formats, e.g. coloured paper, enlarged text, coloured overlays.
  • All material produced in Word is compatible with reading aloud software.
  • Texts are produced in flowable e-book format, so you can use your hand held devices, or your laptops/desktops to adjust the font size to whatever is best for you.

And we can help with online materials:

  • You can adjust some things, such as font size, colour or sound, yourself, and we can help if you’re not sure what else is available.
  • Our high contrast online videos offer screen reader support and have accessible controls, including sliders for play head and volume control.
  • Our online assessments can be tailored to allow extra time, amendments to font size, typeface and colours.
A man with a sight impairment walking with a white cane.
A man with a hearing aid looking at his mobile phone.

Helping with hearing impairments

If you have a hearing impairment, we can provide adjustments so you can hear clearly in class and when using our learning platforms.

  • If you lip read, we’ll make sure you’re at the front of the class and the tutor looks at you directly.
  • We can use a variety of diagrams and visuals, and write up any keywords on the screen.
  • We can provide a lesson plan, notes or handouts prior to the session to look over.
  • We can provide extra time in mock assessments.
  • We can provide access to a reader, scribe, extra time with actual examinations (check with Institute).
  • We’ll try to minimise background chatter in class wherever possible.
  • We’ll make you aware of subtitles and transcriptions where these are available.

Extra learning support

We can help you if you have specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, autism and Asperger’s. We’ll work with you to find out the best way to support your learning. This might include:

  • 1:1 study support
  • Specially adapted materials (e.g. often printing on yellow paper works for learners with Dyslexia)
  • Specialist tuition support, e.g. language skills or numeracy skills
  • Providing a specific point of contact to seek guidance
  • Assistance with planning and managing your studies
  • Providing access to a reader, scribe, extra time with actual examinations
  • Providing a lesson plan, notes or handouts to the learner prior to the session to look over.

We can also provide extra learning support if you have other medical conditions, including any mental health issues. These may be short term adjustments, or more permanent. Just let us know what you need. We can help by:

  • Providing access to session notes and live online recordings when sessions are missed
  • Allowing you to record a lecture
  • 1:1 tutor support
  • Work with you to adjust your programme if you need more time, or a gentler pace of study.
  • Access to a fridge for any medication
  • Providing additional time in exams and with supervised rest breaks.
A woman in a wheelchair

Frequently asked questions

What can Kaplan do to support accessibility?

  • I’m applying as an apprentice. What help is available? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    You should notify Kaplan on your application form and/or through the onboarding process of any learning difficulty or disability that you may have. This will then be discussed with you during your Onboarding call. The Onboarding Coach will ensure that you are supported by identifying the most appropriate solution to any barriers to your learning. Any additional support requirements will be notified to the relevant teams so that they can ensure that you are given the appropriate support.

  • I’m not an apprentice but still need assistance. How do I let you know what support I need? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    You should notify our student services team studentservices@kaplan.co.uk of any learning difficulties or disabilities that may affect your learning. The team will then discuss the most appropriate form of support, taking into account relevant information about what has worked for you previously. Any additional support requirements will be notified to the relevant teams so that they can ensure that you are given the appropriate support.
  • What adjustments will you make to my learning? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    Student Service Advisors/Client Managers will advise prospective students and/or their employers on an appropriate qualification based upon their particular circumstances. The assessment requirements of the qualification and the planned programme of study will be outlined. It will be made clear at the outset if the student will not be able to meet all the assessment criteria due to any disability, impairment or specific learning difficulty.

    Once our advisors have considered what adjustments future or current students with disabilities or difficulties may need, then appropriate provision can be made. The sooner this is completed the better, especially if any specialist equipment is needed. What is reasonable will depend on the individual circumstances, the impact of the disability, cost implications and the practicality and effectiveness of the adjustment.

    We try to be as prepared as possible for all our learners’ needs, but everybody is unique and sometimes we might not be fully prepared and we’ll need to make every potential learner feel welcome while we think on our feet and work with them to try to find a solution.
  • What accessibility options are available when I take my exams? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    In most cases, it is your responsibility to notify the relevant Awarding Organisation/ Professional Body of an additional learning need, which may result in adjustments to the assessment process, including extra time. The AO/PB’s will then notify us of this when exams are booked with the specific institutes. For some qualifications including AAT - you need to contact student services or your local student experience team in the centre - they will then gather the information from you to send onto the AAT to agree upon the reasonable adjustment.

    Our dedicated Student Experience/CBE team works closely with the Awarding Organisation/ Professional Body, to ensure we follow the correct guidelines for Examinations whilst providing support for students.

  • Can adjustments be made after I’ve taken an exam? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    Special consideration involves procedures that may result in an adjustment to the marks of students who have not been able to demonstrate attainment because of exceptional circumstances during the examination itself. We must ensure that we treat students fairly and in accordance with any awarding organisation/professional body guidance.

    If you believe that you were disadvantaged in the examination through circumstances beyond your control – for example, illness during the examination, fire alarm during the examination – you may make a request for special consideration. You should ensure that the invigilator records the circumstances and then the centre will complete the necessary Special Consideration Form and submit to the awarding body no later than 14 days after the examination. Again, please refer to each Institute’s individual guidance. The application should be supported by appropriate evidence, for example, a doctor’s letter in the case of illness.

  • What happens if something changes whilst I’m studying? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    There may be occasions during your time with us when you might experience a more temporary disability or medical condition.

    If you find yourself in need to support please contact your tutor, your talent coach or our student services team.

  • If you are an employer what can Kaplan do to help your employees with additional learning needs? keyboard_arrow_up keyboard_arrow_down

    At Kaplan, every one of us has a personal part to play in achieving successful outcomes for all our learners.

    We have created a guide that aims to provide guidance on how Kaplan can provide your employees with the right tools, personal support and encouragement to help them onwards to their individual successes whilst studying at Kaplan.

    Download Additional Learning Support (ALS) guide (PDF 8 pages, 392KB)