The following policies and procedures apply to Laser Learning Awards and Trident Security Awards Qualifications.
Appeals Policy and Procedures
Please follow the LASER Appeals Policy and Procedures for dealing with appeals (including requests for re-marks of exam papers).
You can also download the Request for remark of Exam Papers.
Centre and Individual Approval Policy and Procedures
Any centre wishing to offer Laser Learning Awards (LASER) provision must first be approved by LASER.
In addition, in some cases (including but not necessarily limited to centres offering Security Industry Association (“SIA”) licence-linked qualifications in the security sector under LASER’s ‘Trident Awards’ brand) individuals at the relevant centre must be approved by LASER before delivering and/or assessing any LASER provision. The criteria for approving individuals is set out in this policy.
Guidance on how to do this can be found in LASER’s Centre and Individual Approval Policy and Procedures document.
Centre and Individual Suspension and Withdrawal Policy and Procedures
To download the Centre and Individual Suspension and Withdrawal Policy and Procedures document please click here.
Complaints Policy and Procedures
LASER is committed to providing a high quality service and to maintaining the highest standards for its learners, Centres and other stakeholders. However, should a stakeholder (including a learner or Centre) be dissatisfied with the service they have received from LASER, a complaint may be made.
Our Complaints Policy and Procedures document provides you with all the information you need.
Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedures
To download the Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedures document please click here.
Fair Assessment (Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations) Policy
LASER is committed to ensuring that, where reasonable, assessments are accessible to learners who have particular needs and may require reasonable adjustments where appropriate, and that special consideration is given to learners who experience unexpected temporary circumstances which may affect them at the time of assessment. These reasonable adjustments and special considerations, whilst supporting the needs of individual learners and complying with current equalities legislation, must also ensure that in order to maintain the integrity of awards, assessment continues to be valid, reliable and consistent and demonstrate achievement of all learning outcomes against the stated assessment criteria, at the stated level, and must not provide any undue advantage, or disadvantage, to any learner.
More information can be found in the Fair Assessment (Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations) Policy document.
Reasonable Adjustments
Awarding organisations and centres are required by law to do what is ‘reasonable’ in terms of giving access. Factors, such as the need to maintain competence have to be taken into consideration as well as considering what is reasonable in the individual circumstances.
A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the learner at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation. Reasonable adjustments must not affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes, and the work produced by the learner will be marked in the same way as the work of other assessed learners.
Centres must complete the Reasonable Adjustments Form in order to apply for and agree arrangements for reasonable adjustments with their Trident Awards Quality Reviewer before the assessment activity takes place.
Special Consideration
Each request for special consideration will be unique to each learner or assessment and a learner who is fully prepared and present for a scheduled assessment may be eligible for special consideration if:
- Performance in an assessment is affected by circumstances beyond the control of the learner for example recent personal illness, accident, bereavement, serious disturbance during the assessment
- Part of an assessment has been missed due to circumstances beyond the control of the learner
A learner will not be eligible for special consideration if:
- No evidence is supplied by the centre that the learner has been affected at the time of the assessment by a particular condition
- Any part of the assessment is missed due to personal arrangements including holidays or unauthorised absence
- Preparation for a component is affected by difficulties during the course, for example disturbances through building work, lack of proper facilities, changes in or shortages of staff, or industrial disputes.
Centres should note that, where an assessment requires the learner to demonstrate practical competence or where criteria have to be met fully, or in the case of a licence linked qualifications, it may not be possible to apply special consideration.
Special consideration should not give the learner an unfair advantage neither should its use cause the user of the certificate to be misled regarding a learner’s achievements. The learner’s result must reflect his/her achievement in the assessment and not necessarily his/her potential ability.
Download the Special Consideration form here
Invoicing Policy
An invoice is a document issued by us to a purchaser that formally requests payment for our services supplied. The issuing of an invoice indicates that the provider must now settle their account with us according to our payment terms.
An invoice is printed on company stationery and can be posted or emailed and contains the following information:
- The word “Invoice.”
- A unique reference number.
- Date of the invoice.
- The company registration details.
- The purchaser’s name and contact details.
- Description of the goods or services.
- A purchase order number or customer reference, where applicable.
- Unit price, where relevant.
- Total amount payable.
- Payment terms, including method of payment.
We ensure that invoices are issued in a timely manner in relation to the provision of qualifications.
We ensure that we will provide a breakdown of our fees to a reasonable level of detail following a request from a provider.
Retention Policy
We retain invoices for six years plus the current year.
Malpractice and Maladministration Policy and Procedures
Laser Learning Awards (LASER) is committed to ensuring access to fair assessment for all learners and to protecting the integrity of the award of credit and qualifications. Further information can be found in the following documents:
- LASER’s Malpractice and Maladministration Policy and Procedures
- Report of Suspected Malpractice (M1) Form
Quartz Web Guide for Internal Quality Assurers
LASER approved Internal Quality Assurers are required to follow the Web Guide to complete online verification.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy
Laser Learning Awards Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy and Procedure provides guidance, support and clarification to Laser Learning Awards providers on implementing and claiming credits against RPL assessment.
Replacement Certificates
If you need a replacement certificate or to update a learner’s details on our system please download the Request for Correction of Learner Details form.
Sanctions Policy and Procedures
Laser Learning Awards (LASER) reserves the right to apply conditions and sanctions on centres, to safeguard the award of credit and protect its interests. Sanctions may be applied to individual staff within centres, and/or the centre as a whole. Sanctions may also be applied to candidates.
Approved centres must comply with all sanctions imposed upon them. Download the full Sanctions Policy and Procedures for further information.
Using LASER Logos
The Laser Learning Awards and Trident logo can only be used by third parties with permission from LASER.
To request copies of the logo please email enquiries@laser-awards.org.uk
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of use may result in permission to use the logo being withdrawn. The Laser Learning Awards and Trident logo and brand identity must not be used in anyway which misrepresents the meaning of centre recognition and the use of Laser Learning Awards’ products and services or which brings the name of Laser Learning Awards into disrepute.
Whistleblowing Policy
Whistleblowing is a term used when an individual discloses information relating to malpractice or wrongdoing and/or the covering up of malpractice or wrongdoing. For further information, you can download LASER’s Whistleblowing Policy.