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Information for Access Centres

Information for Access Providers

OCNSWR offers a range of support for Access Providers including the annual Access Conference, Access Forum Meetings and Communities of Practice groups. The Access area of the website contains all documents, information and forms required to run an Access Course effectively. The Access Newsletter gives regional and national news each term and Access Bulletins offering information and updates about national initiatives and policies are published as required.

The Access to HE Team offer individual provider support and consists of the Director of Access, Steph Hulford, who has overall responsibility for Access in the region and Access to HE Officers Edwina Allison (Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset), and Karen Cousins (Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and the Channel Islands). Sophie Butland, Access to HE Support Officer, is also on hand to answer queries and provide information.

You can download useful forms and templates from our Forms section.

Access Centre Status

Providers with Approved Access Centre Status may develop their provision by adding new pathways. Access Centre Status is subject to review every five years.  

Additional Pathways

At the end of the Spring Term, Providers are required to complete a CAF Pathways Planning form, indicating which pathways they plan to offer during the next academic year.  If a Provider wishes to expand provision and offer new pathways in addition to those agreed in their Initial Application, an Application to Offer Additional Pathways form should be submitted. This is to ensure that any new provision meets the same quality standards.

Procedure for Approved Access Centres to Offer Additional Pathways

Application to Offer Additional Pathways Form

Additional Pathways Application Form Guidance Notes

Centre Review

Approved Access Centre status is reviewed every five years. The Provider is required to submit an Access Centre Review Report which is presented to a Review Group at a Centre Review meeting. The Review Group will make a recommendation to the HEAC that Approved Access Centre status be:

• Renewed for a period of five years (possibly with minor amendments)
• Renewed for a period of five years subject to stated actions being implemented within an agreed timescale

Referred for a further period of review and resubmission

Access Centre Review Procedure

Access Centre Review Form

Access Centre Review Form Guidelines

Access Conference

The annual Access Conference is held in the Autumn Term and is open to all FE and HE staff and other interested parties working to promote the development of Access in the region.

Access Forum Meetings

The Access Forum meets at least once a year, normally in two separate locations, and Access Course Tutors and representatives from HE are invited to attend. The group provides an opportunity for discussion around local and national issues relating to Access to HE. The group also provides a forum for the exchange of good practice, information and networking.

Communities of Practice (CoP).

Access to HE Communities of Practice (CoP) offers opportunities for FE and HE curriculum and subject specialist tutors in the South West region to network, develop knowledge, enjoy peer support and share resources. Subject specialist email groups have been established covering six broad subject areas and in response to feedback from providers OCNSWR has launched a new Access to HE CoP Online Forum. The forum is intended to facilitate a dynamic platform for discussion around current topics, providing opportunities to engage with colleagues across the whole region.

To join an email CoP group please return a completed CoP Information Form to Karen Cousins.

To register and join the OCNSWR Access to HE CoP online forum go to http://www.educationcommunities.org/welcome.do, click on the 'Register' button and follow the steps given.

If you should encounter any problems during registration please contact Karen Cousins, Access to HE Officer.