STUDENT HANDBOOK

the SES GROUP

The Barrows
Roydon Road
Harlow
Essex
CM19 5BL
 WELCOME

Welcome to the SES GROUP. Our Learner Management System (LMS) (EQUAL) is hosted under
a tenancy agreement and owned by the Skills Network (TSN, 2016). Over the next few months
you will be supported by The SES GROUP to complete your chosen online course.
You are now a student of the SES ACADEMY who are providing funding for you to study
this course. If you have any queries or questions throughout your course, you should
contact the Student Support Team on: M: 07932 647 429 | T: 020 8804 5058 or
email: david.brook@thesesgroup.co.uk and they will answer any questions you have.

Welcome email
Within 48 hours of the induction, you will receive an
email with your login details. Please check your junk
folder if this email cannot be found in your main inbox.

Resetting your password

After receiving your welcome email, you will be
instructed to reset your password. Your password
should be at least eight characters long and
should include at least one number.
Tip: Write down your password in a safe place, as
you will need it each time you log in to the E-Learning. However, if
you forget your password, don’t worry! Simply click the ‘Forgot
your password’ link on the login page and follow the instructions in the email
you receive.
Logging in
Once you have reset your password you will see the login screen.
To log in, you should enter your email address in the email field, and type your chosen
password in the password cell. Alternatively, log in to www.ses.equal-online.com

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Your personal homepage
Once you have successfully logged into the SES LMS (EQUAL), you will begin by seeing a
summary page of your chosen course of study. This page will be your main overall source of
information about your progress through the course, such as the next date of submission,
the number of units you will be working your way through and the ability to begin taking your
assessments.
Your assessment
The assessment tab gives you a question overview of the unit you have clicked into. In this
area, you can navigate to begin inputting answers to your assessment questions. To do this,
select the ‘Click to answer’ button on the right-hand side of the screen.
Assessment questions
By clicking in the box below a question, you will be
able to type your answer. When you are finished with
a question and wish to continue on to the next, you
should use the arrow on the right-hand side of the
answer box. At any point, you can see an overview of
your assessment by clicking the ‘Overview’ button.
Tip: Tutors strongly advise you to work through the
learning resources prior to beginning your assessments.
The information and activities within this content will
help you to answer the assessment questions.

Submitting your assessment

Once you have completed every question in a unit, you will be
directed to the Assessment Overview page to give your
answers one final check before submission! You can go back
into any of the questions to change your answer by clicking
‘Click to edit’ on the right-hand side. Once you are happy with
your answers, you should click the ‘Submit’ button.
Once you have clicked the ‘Submit’ button, your assessment
will be sent to your tutor for marking. At this stage, you are
no longer able to edit your assessment and you will be
presented with a screen which highlights your submission
has been successful.
If you have passed the unit
You will be notified by email when your tutor has completed and returned your feedback, so
remember to regularly check your inbox and your junk mail for these emails. You should log
back in to SES LMS by using your email address as the username and the password that
you set up at the beginning of the process.
If you have passed the unit, you will see a message of congratulations.

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 If you have not passed the unit
The system will provide notification, should your tutor require a little more information from
you. If this is the case, don’t worry! It is a common occurrence and is not a problem. All of the
questions you have answered correctly will be highlighted in green, which means there is no
more work for you to do on these. However, the questions that are marked red are the ones
that require a little more attention.
You should use the feedback from your tutor to help you with your resubmission. Once you
are ready to resubmit your assessment questions, you should check your answers in the
overview page and then submit them back to your tutor for marking.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO AND HELP ARTICLES

An introduction video will be available to watch when

you log in to your account for the first time.
It covers all the key aspects of the system and what
to expect when working through your online learning
materials and assessments.
If you need to watch this video again at any time, visit the
help and support section. This area also features
numerous articles and video tutorials to help you
understand key aspects of the system if you need further
explanation.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY

The SES GROUP are committed to allowing access to education for all students and
users of the educational services. We will also ensure that there is no discrimination on
the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership,
pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Further details of all policies and procedures can be accessed via the SES GROUP
website.

For further help and guidance in relation to equal opportunities, or if you have any problems
or queries with your course, you should contact The SES GROUP Student Support Team
during normal office hours.

If your query remains unanswered, The SES GROUP Student Support Team will put you
in contact with your lead tutor.

SAFEGUARDING YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS POLICY

The SES GROUP is committed to safeguarding the welfare of young people and adults and
preventing abuse. Further details of all policies and procedures can be accessed via the
SES Group Website.
For further help and guidance in relation to safeguarding, or if you have any problems or
queries with your course, you should contact The SES GROUP Student Support Team on
M: 07932 647 429 | T: 020 8804 5058 during normal office hours, or email
david.brook@thesesgroup.co.uk. 3
 STUDENT CHARTER

As a distance learning student, you are entitled to receive the same service as any other
student at the ACADEMY. The SES GROUP aim to ensure you are provided with a learning
experience of the highest quality. Your course is open to inspection and regular meetings are
held between your assessment team and awarding organisation.

Before you begin, you have the right to expect clear and accurate information about the
course, qualification targets and what facilities/resources are available to you. You also have
the right to know how you will be taught, how you will be assessed and any additional support
that may be available to you.

We expect you to take your studies seriously and use all the help and advice that is
available to you.

Once you are accepted as a student, you have the right to high quality teaching and support
throughout your learning, as well as access to regular information on your progress and unit
achievements and the support of any counselling and guidance you may require.

You have the right to be treated fairly and equally and to complain if you are not satisfied with
the service you receive. We welcome your opinions and any suggestions, which may assist us
to be more helpful.

If you need to get in touch for any reason, please contact The SES GROUP Student Support
Team or your personal tutor in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of
this correspondence you can contact the HR department.

PROGRAMME DELIVERY

The course is run via distance learning. Distance learning means you can study at a time that
is suitable for you.

Getting started is easy, just make your way through the learning resources to gain all the
knowledge you need to successfully answer the assessment questions. Our content is
engaging and will get your brain working with activities, quizzes and additional reading.

ASSESSMENT

Once you have read through your learning resources you should be ready to answer the
assessment questions. You will need to complete each individual unit assessment by the
deadline agreed at your induction, which is also detailed in your ‘Individual Learning Plan’
(this will be explained in more detail overleaf) or if you did not have an induction you will
be provided the agreed timescales in your welcoming email.

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 SUBMITTING YOUR ASSESSMENT

Online assessment – Simply login to your online learning profile, answer your questions and
submit to us for marking.

Each assessment will be marked by your personal tutor. They will assess whether or not you
have met the criteria and provide constructive comments on your answers. If you have not
met the criteria fully, don’t panic, your tutor will guide you on what you need to do to
successfully pass the unit. If you have to resubmit any part of the assessment, your tutor or
the Student Support Team will contact you directly. They will agree with you an action plan
which will support you in providing the correct level of information in order to pass your unit
assessment.

To achieve your qualification you must successfully pass each relevant unit assessment.
Your assessment should be submitted electronically.
• All assessments must be your own work; plagiarism will result in an automatic referral.
Please see section later in the handbook.
• Robust written feedback will be given to all students for submitted assessments.
• Each student must successfully complete each unit of the course in order to achieve the
qualification. This means that each unit must be successfully given a ‘PASS’ mark by your
tutor in order for you to gain the qualification.
• An internal and external moderator will moderate all assessed work.

SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMARore appropriate.

Ofsted requires literacy to be emphasised across curriculum subjects. To comply with

Ofsted’s requirement’s, your tutor is expected to highlight any areas for development in
spelling, punctuation and grammar when assessing your work.

Your tutor will provide feedback and guidance in your summary and action plan. It is your
knowledge and understanding of the course content that will determine if you have met the
learning outcomes. You will not be required to correct any spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Spelling will only be corrected in some cases, such as when a brand name has been spelt
incorrectly.

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 ASSESSMENT POLICY

The SES GROUP has a responsibility to ensure that all aspects of the assessment process are
conducted in the best interests of learners. Assessment is the process of reviewing a learner’s
skills and knowledge in order to evaluate what they have learnt in a fair, accurate and
consistent manner.

Assessment will:

• Provide diagnostic information to assist both staff and learners in providing support to
enable achievement of the learning outcomes (initial assessment).

• Allow learners to monitor their own progress.

• Enable tutors to review and develop learning programmes.

• Provide evidence of progress and achievement to enable accreditation and progression

to take place.
Assessment follows the five principles below:

1. Authenticity: All assessment activity must be accompanied by a statement signed by the

learner, ensuring achievement is the learner’s own work.

2. Validity: The method of assessment and the evidence provided must be appropriate and
should ensure that the learners can demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes of the
provision at the appropriate level.

3. Reliability and consistency: Assessment results should be standardised across levels

and provision and standardisation must follow the procedures of partners and awarding
bodies. The SES Group ensure that the assessment procedure is set out using clear
guidelines for all relevant staff by hosting regular standardisation and training sessions.

4. Fit for purpose: Assessment must be fit for the learners and the learning. Criteria and
assessment methods must be clear to the learner, tutors and all other staff.

5. Inclusiveness: Assessment should be based on the learners’ needs. It must allow all learners
to demonstrate achievement regardless of individual circumstances in compliance with
SES’s equality and diversity policy.

The assessment policy is an internal policy designed to ensure that distance learning tutors
and internal moderators conduct their assessment in line with the awarding body’s current
guidelines. The process is monitored by external verifiers from the awarding body, who conduct
sample checks of students’ work to ensure that all staff are meeting the current guidelines.

This assessment policy shall be made clear to all members of staff at The SES GROUP ‘Academy’. The policy
shall also be reviewed and amended, as necessary, on an annual basis.

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 APPEALS PROCEDURE

The appeals procedure is an internal procedure designed to give you the opportunity to
appeal against results, timings, procedures, materials and the actual assessment. In the
event of an initial discussion not being able to find a satisfactory solution to a problem, you
will have the right to take the matter to the appeals committee.
You have the opportunity to appeal on grounds of:
• The assessment result.
• The timing of an assessment.
• Procedures, materials and support relating to an assessment.

Appeals procedure is as follows:

• You should request the appeal in writing.
• Appeals will normally be heard within 14 days of the complaint being made in writing.
• Evidence will be taken verbally from both you and your tutor, and if appropriate, the
project team leader.
• Results of appeals shall be given at the earliest possible opportunity and any delays
should be explained. Appeal results may be given verbally at the hearing and should
also be confirmed in writing.
• Appeal details and results will be recorded and kept in your file.
You should first discuss the problem with your tutor/assessor. You will be notified who this
is upon submission of your first unit.

If a satisfactory response cannot be sought at this stage, you have a right to appeal and:
• Should ask to speak to a member of the Quality Assurance Team to assist with the
Appeal.
• May request that the matter be referred to an appeals committee.

The Quality Assurance Manager and Head of Academic Standards will be responsible for the
appeals process.
An appeals committee will consist of the Quality Assurance manager and an internal
moderator.
In the event of the result of the appeal being unsatisfactory, you may:
• Take the matter to the External Moderator.
The SES GROUP is required to give advice in this event.

Should you wish to appeal against a result for an external examination or assessment,
The SES GROUP will:
• Be required to give you sufficient advice to enable you to appeal in compliance with the
exam body’s regulations.

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 You should first discuss the assessment with the member of staff who assessed the work
before considering an appeal. If you are still unhappy with the outcome, you can contact the
quality manager at The SES GROUP on 020 8804 5058 .
The appeals procedure shall also be reviewed and amended as necessary on an annual
basis.

CUSTOMER COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Complaints should be made in writing by email to doug.adams@thesesgroup.co.uk or

by letter to the Quality Assurance Manager, The SES GROUP, The Barrows, Royston Road,
Harlow, Essex, CM195BL.

The Quality Assurance Manager has responsibility for the following:

• Once a complaint is received, a response will be submitted either by telephone or in
writing (by either email or standard letter) to the complainant, as soon as possible, and
certainly within five working days of receipt of the complaint
• If the complaint cannot be resolved within five working days, or if it is foreseen that the
complaint cannot be resolved within five working days, the complainant will be notified
as to the reason for the delay
• The complaint will be recorded in a complaints log.

The Quality Assurance Manager will be responsible for:

• Providing the date of the complaint.
• The nature of the complaint.
• The contact details of the complainant.
• The outcome letter or transcript of the outcome to HR.

The Response to the complaint will contain:

• Information as to a right of appeal, if the complainant is not happy with the outcome;
• Notification as to who they can direct their appeal to and the timescale in which the
appeal should be lodged;
• Notification that the appeal will be investigated and dealt with within 10 working days
following receipt of the appeal;
• Notification that if there is a delay to the response to the appeal that the complainant
will be contacted and reasons for the delay explained to that person;
• Notification that the person dealing with the appeal should have a more senior role than
the person who dealt with the first complaint and in any event should be a different
person to the person dealing with the first complaint.

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The appeal outcome letter will contain:

• Details of the investigation

• Reasoned outcome
• Notification of a review with reference made to a Director
• Notification that the review will be carried out within 10 working days of receipt of
the request for a review; and notification that if there is a delay to the review that the
complainant will be contacted and reasons for the delay explained to that person.

As a learner you are required under your learning agreement with the SES GROUP ‘Academy’ to
complete your assessments and return them on or before the deadline dates (as stated below).
Failure to comply with these deadlines could affect access to future training opportunities with the
SES GROUP.
You should complete and ensure you follow your Individual Learning Plan in order to remain
aware of your assessment deadline dates.

Please complete the following with the appropriate dates for your own reference:
[* where applicable]
1st assessment 7th assessment
Submission due by: Submission due by:
2nd assessment 8th assessment
Submission due by: Submission due by:
3rd assessment* 9th assessment*
Submission due by: Submission due by:
4th assessment* 10th assessment*
Submission due by: Submission due by:
5th assessment* 11th assessment*
Submission due by: Submission due by:
6th assessment* 12th assessment*
Submission due by: Submission due by:

By signing the Individual Learning Plan you agree to conform to the terms and conditions,
which are outlined on the following page.

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 TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. I understand that I am enrolling on a distance learning course.

2. I am committed to completing the course.
3. I have read the terms and conditions.
4. I agree to provide all the required evidence to ensure I am entitled to funding for this
course if applicable.
5. I have received my learning materials, assessments and student handbook.
6. I will complete my assessments and return to The SES GROUP to be received by the
due dates stated above in my Individual Learning Plan.
7. I understand that I must complete each relevant unit and achieve a ‘PASS’ grade in
each unit in order to successfully achieve the qualification.
8. I am fully aware of who to contact and how to contact them if I have any problems with
my coursework.
9. I agree that information about my progress on the course can be shared with my
employer.

THE SES GROUP PLAGIARISM POLICY

PLAGIARISM – What is it?

Plagiarism is when you present someone else’s work, words, images, ideas, opinions or
discoveries (whether published or not), as your own. Plagiarism can also occur through using
the artwork, images or computer generated work of others, without properly acknowledging
the source, with or without their permission.

Examples of plagiarism could include:

• Directly copying from written physical, pictorial or written material, without crediting the
source
• Paraphrasing someone else’s work, without crediting the source
• using another person’s work and presenting it as your own.

Plagiarism is an example of academic misconduct. Other examples of academic misconduct

are:
• Cheating; which is acting unfairly or dishonestly to gain an advantage
• Secretly agreeing with others to cheat or deceive (this is known as collusion).

If you are found to be plagiarising, cheating or colluding then you may be withdrawn from the
programme and charged the withdrawal fee as stated in your Individual Learning Plan. You
may also be subject to disciplinary action.

This type of action will be taken by The SES GROUP if they believe they have evidence
which indicates you have done something wrong. The following worst-case actions may be
taken in any order, depending on the severity and frequency of your academic misconduct:

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 • Your mark or assessment grade will be reduced or you will be awarded zero
• You may not be allowed to take the unit/exam/test again
• You are disqualified from your course
• You are withdrawn from the course

HELPFUL TI TIPS FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS
Describe
If you are asked to describe something, you should state the features in such a way that
another person could recognise what you are describing if they saw it. An example might be:
Describe a donkey. It would be insufficient to state “has four legs and a back” as this could
be a chair. A description stating “a four legged animal, long tail, mane, similar to a horse but
generally smaller, makes a unique sound like “eeyor” often repeatedly” would probably allow
another person to recognise your description as a donkey.

Explain/discuss
Give details which make what you are trying to say clear to the reader. As a general rule, this
type of question requires the most in-depth answer.
State
Usually requires a shortened answer, which could be a list or a single sentence. Several
questions take the form of “state what the letters ‘BBC’ stand for”. The answer would simply
be “British Broadcasting Corporation”.
Outline
This type of question needs a brief answer which does not include much detail, but covers
all steps, stages or parts involved. A question asking you to outline how to catch a train
would require an answer along the lines of “check train times, choose train, go to station,
buy ticket and board train”. It would not expect you to include the detail of how you would do
these things.
Identify
This means to give sufficient detail so that someone else can recognise your description.
This is sometimes used instead of “state”, so think what the question is asking for.
Demonstrate
Means just that. Show someone what you do.

References:

The Skills Network: Student Handbook 2016.

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