Can my child get extra time or other access arrangements?

What counts

SEAG describes Access Arrangements as reasonable adjustments for children with a specific, significant need in one or more of these areas:

• cognition and learning
• communication and interaction
• sensory
• physical
• social, emotional and mental health
• medical

What's available

Depending on the need, SEAG lists extra time (up to 25%), medical adjustments, smaller group invigilation, enlarged papers and other reasonable adjustments. Each application is looked at individually.

SEAG's full policy also allows an individual prompter, but only for a child with a substantial need who has a classroom assistant as part of their normal way of working in class.

The evidence

• It has to reflect your child's normal way of working in the classroom. SEAG says arrangements can't be put in place just for the test.
• It must be appropriate professional evidence, independently verified.
• SEAG's full policy, on its Access Arrangements Guide, sets out exactly what's needed. It's worth reading early, because evidence takes time to gather.

The deadline

The Access Arrangements part of the application has to be submitted before registration closes. For 2026 that was 11:59pm on Friday 18 September.

In my experience

Some children without a diagnosed special need, for example children who get very anxious, have been given extra time when their family applied with the school's evidence behind them. SEAG's rule is that any arrangement has to reflect how your child normally works in class.