Our Assessment Centres
Aylesbury - The Gatehouse, Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury HP19 8DB
Bedford - Suite A, Ground Floor, Grove Place, 22 Grove Place, Bedford MK40 3JJ
Buckingham - Suite F15, Whiteleaf Business Centre, 11 Little Balmer, Buckingham MK18 1TF
Cirencester - Cirencester Growth Hub, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Rd, Cirencester GL7 6JR
Eastbourne - Hammersmith Suite, Greencoat House, 32 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne BN21 3UT
Farnham - St Paul's House, East Street, Farnham GU9 7TJ
Telford - Suite 1-2, RBR House, 6 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU
Aylesbury
Our Aylesbury centre is a short distance from both the University of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire New University's Aylesbury campuses
- Ground floor office
- On-site car parking facilities
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Bedford
Our Bedford centre is a conveniently located for students at the University of Bedford's Bedford campus and Bedford town centre
- Ground floor office
- On-site car parking facilities
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Buckingham
Our Buckingham centre is within a mile of the University of Buckingham, in the Whiteleaf Business Centre
- First floor office with lift access
- On-site car parking facilities
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Cirencester
Our Cirencester centre is set within the grounds of the Royal Agricultural University and a short walk from Cirencester College
- Ground floor office
- On-site car parking facilities
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Eastbourne
Our Eastbourne centre is under a mile from the University of Brighton's Eastbourne campus
- Second floor office with lift access and option for a ground floor location on request
- On-site car parking facilities
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Farnham
Our Farnham centre is located a few minutes walk from the University for the Creative Arts Farnham campus
- Ground floor office
- On-site car parking facilities (at the rear)
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilet facilities
Telford
Our Telford centre is next to the University of Wolverhampton's Telford campus and under 10 miles from Harper Adams University
- Ground floor office
- On-site car parking facilities
- Ramped access to the building and then step-free access to the office
- Accessible toilet facilities
Our testimonials
My experience today with Ultima Education has made a huge difference to my confidence with going to University. My assessor was so friendly, made me feel comfortable and listened to my concerns and needs. Overall, really amazing experience and I came away really looking forward to University!
Ultima Education have been so helpful through my journey with DSA. I have always felt listened to and have always been responded to quickly and helpfully. My DSA assessment was very thorough and I felt that the assessor really tried to personalise my assessment and ensure I got exactly what would help me. I have been provided with excellent and professional service.
My assessor was very nice and made me feel relaxed and comfortable. They asked lots of questions to ensure they could request the best equipment for my needs, without making it feel like an interrogation. I struggled to find the entrance to the centre and received excellent directions over the phone, as well as someone coming to meet me in the car park to make sure I didn’t get lost again!
My assessor was very welcoming throughout the online call. He was very knowledgeable about all the software one might need to assist them throughout their work life. He also understood very well the process to get the required equipment and made sure I understood the process well.
I had an amazing experience at Surrey Assessment Centre for my DSA assessment. I felt a lot more confident afterwards that I’d manage my studies as well as health issues. My assessor made me feel very at ease and comfortable throughout. Thank you!
My experience with Ultima Education was very good. Comfortable I would say! A very friendly assessor who made me feel less apprehensive about my DSA support for my studies. I definitely would recommend this centre highly! Thank you for your warm reception!
The study needs assessment process
The first thing to know if that although it’s called a study needs assessment, you are not going to be assessed in any way – there are no tests to complete and the difficulties that you may experience are not going to be checked or assessed. Instead you get to assess the different types of support available through the Disabled Students Allowances funding to work out what will be most effective in supporting your difficulties.
The session is guided by a needs assessor, who will help ensure that you have thought of all the possible areas that you may have difficulties, and will then go through the different support options with you. This is likely to include demonstrating some software (have a look here for some examples) and potentially looking at different types of equipment so that you can see whether the support will be useful to you.
The assessor will encourage you to say what you think will be helpful from the recommendations discussed, and what you don't think will be useful. The recommendations made for the funding are based to a large degree on what you think will work for you - you are the expert, not the assessor!
You will also be told how you access the support once the funding has been approved, and taken through the process of ordering equipment, setting up any one-to-one support and claiming back any general costs.
How much does it cost?
The study needs assessment will not cost you anything.
Assessment Centres do charge an assessment fee for carrying out study needs assessment and providing follow-up support for the duration of your studies. However, this fee is paid from the Disabled Students Allowances funding meaning that you do not have to pay for it yourself.
Ultima Education Ltd charges £650 to carry out study needs assessments. We may occasionally be asked to undertake a review of your needs, which does incur an additional charge, but this is again all covered by the Disabled Students Allowances funding.
If you cancel your study needs assessment within 24 hours of the appointment, a cancellation charge may be made, which is also paid from the Disabled Students Allowances funding.
How long does it take?
We allow up to two hours for a study needs assessment, though often it does not take this long – we allow up to two hours as this is sometimes needed and we don’t want you to feel rushed.
Occasionally the needs assessor will discuss whether it may be beneficial to refer you for a follow up assessment where more specialist equipment will be available to try. This can happen for students who require specific ergonomic items, such as specialist chairs, but can also be the case for students with visual and hearing impairments. This would be arranged for a later date at your convenience.
After the assessment, we will write your needs assessment report and send it to you and your funding body within 10 working days. Your funding body will then take a couple of weeks to review the recommendations and send you confirmation that they have been approved for funding. You can then order any equipment and book in any one-to-one support.
Can I bring someone?
If you would like to bring someone with you, that’s fine, and that can be a parent or friend. We have plenty of space in our assessment centres and understand that the situation can seem quite daunting for some people. If having someone with you helps you, then please bring them along.
Wherever possible we ask that children do not accompany you to your assessment as it is then understandably difficult for you to give your full attention to the assessor and the support being discussed.
What happens afterwards?
The assessor will also explain how the information taken in the session will be used, and who you should contact if you have any questions in the future. You will also be asked if you would like to see a draft copy of your report before it is sent to your funding body.
All of this information, and a summary of the recommendations that have been agreed in the assessment will be documented, and a summary of this will be emailed to you so that you have a record to refer back to.