Children may be given up to 25 per cent additional time to complete the written tests in a particular subject if they have a statement of special educational needs or they meet the criteria for the approval of an application for additional time.

Additional time may not always be the most appropriate access arrangement for a child. Schools should consider whether a child will actually benefit from an extended period of additional time, or whether rest breaks are more appropriate.

Schools must apply for additional time for children that do not have a statement of special educational needs via the Access arrangements section of the NCA tools website by midnight on Monday 25 February. You will need to have a registered email address and password to access NCA tools.

Schools do not need to request permission for additional time for children with a statement of special educational needs. These children are allowed up to 25 per cent additional time for written tests at a school’s discretion.

There is also no need to make applications for additional time for the spelling component of the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test, as this is not strictly timed and the time quoted is for guidance only.

Eligible circumstances for additional time

Applications for additional time are considered against a profile. To be eligible for up to 25 per cent additional time, a child must meet at least three of the criteria outlined in section A, or one of the criteria in section B. These are described on the following pages - use the 'Next' button at the bottom of this page to navigate to the criteria.

Children using enlarged print versions of the tests are not automatically entitled to additional time unless they have a statement of special educational needs, in which case they are allowed up to 25 per cent additional time for written tests at your discretion.

Additional time for the mental mathematics test is only allowed if a child uses the modified version of the test and has a visual impairment, a hearing impairment or accesses the tests through sign language. 

Circumstances where requests for additional time would not be granted

Additional time will not be granted if:

  • the minimum criteria from section A or section B has not been met, as described on the following web pages; or
  • the application form has not been correctly completed and/or received by midnight on Monday 25 February.

Applications will also not be granted where provision of additional time is not appropriate, for example: 

  • The child’s needs would be better catered for by other access arrangements such as rest breaks, a prompter and/or working in a separate room. This may be particularly relevant for a child with emotional or behavioural difficulties, or with poor concentration.
  • The child is working below the level of the test – additional time is unlikely to be of any benefit to a child working below or at the lowest levels of a test. Schools should consider whether teacher assessment alone would be the best way of judging their performance.
  • The child has a low reading ability that is in line with his or her general level of attainment IQ, verbal or non-verbal ability and it is clear that the child is working below or at the lowest levels of the test. Additional time is unlikely to be used by children with general low ability, many of whom do not use all the time allowed.
  • The child does not receive additional time on a regular basis in the classroom. If additional time is not normally provided in the classroom, children are unlikely to find it useful in the tests.

Children for whom provision is made under the special educational needs (SEN) code of practice and who do not have a visual impairment, a hearing impairment or motor impairment are not allowed any additional time for the mental mathematics test. In these cases, additional time is unlikely to be helpful.

Making an application

Applications for up to 25 per cent additional time must be made using the online form on NCA tools by midnight on Monday 25 February. Late applications will only be considered if they relate to a child who joined the school on or after Friday 1 February 2013 or whose special educational needs have changed significantly since the application deadline.

Applications made by maintained schools, academies and Free Schools under the responsibility of a local authority will be considered and processed by their local authority. STA will consider applications from independent schools, academies and Free Schools that do not fall under a local authority’s responsibility.

All applications for additional time will be responded to by Friday 19 April. Once your application has been reviewed you will receive an automated email. You can check the outcome of an application or see whether further information is required by logging in to the Access arrangements section of NCA tools.

The following web pages provide details of the tests schools should use to provide evidence to support an application.

Additional time for modified tests

Children who have a visual impairment and use modified large print or Braille versions of the tests are automatically entitled to up to 100 per cent additional time to complete the tests. This applies to all of the tests, including the mental mathematics test.

Children with a permanent or long-term hearing impairment using the modified version of the mental mathematics test are automatically entitled to up to 100 per cent additional time to complete that test.

Contact details

National Curriculum assessments helpline
Telephone: 0300 303 3013
Email: assessments@education.gov.uk