Specialist Study Skill Support
Specialist one-to-one study skills support for SpLD and autism
Specialist study skills support helps university students develop practical, independent ways to plan, read, write and manage academic work. UMO matches each student with a tutor qualified for the specific SpLD or autism/ASC role named in their referral.
Strategies that fit the student
For example, sessions can turn a large assignment into manageable stages, build a reading method or create a workable weekly routine.
Qualified, role-matched tutors
SpLD and autism/ASC are separate specialist roles. Therefore, UMO checks that the tutor meets the current requirements for the role being delivered.
Independence, not dependence
The student makes the academic decisions and completes the work. Meanwhile, the tutor helps them test, adapt and reuse effective strategies.
Practical support linked to real course demands
The tutor starts with the student's goals, strengths, access needs and current workload. Next, they explore approaches the student can apply between sessions.
- Planning assignments, projects and independent study
- Reading critically and identifying relevant information
- Structuring ideas before drafting academic work
- Managing time, attention, workload and deadlines
- Developing revision, memory and note-making methods
Two distinct specialist study skills roles
The formal DSA role must match the student's approved support. A practitioner approved for one role is not automatically approved for the other.
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
SpLD study skills support addresses the way a specific learning difference affects higher education study. For instance, a tutor may help a student develop approaches to processing reading, organising ideas, sequencing work, written expression, memory and time management.
Formal role: Specialist one-to-one Study Skills and Strategy Support – Specific Learning Difficulties.
Autism / ASC
Autism study skills support responds to the individual student's experience of university learning. It may include making academic expectations explicit, planning around transitions, developing flexible routines, prioritising tasks and managing the study impact of sensory or executive-function barriers.
Formal role: Specialist one-to-one Study Skills and Strategy Support – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SS:ASC). Current SLC guidance also permits this role to be recommended for some students with ADD or ADHD.
How specialist study skills support works
A clear start helps the student and tutor use the approved hours purposefully.
Confirm the role
First, UMO checks the referral, approved support role, hours, delivery method and practical access needs.
Agree priorities
The student identifies current barriers, strengths, course demands and goals for the sessions.
Practise strategies
Next, the tutor uses relevant study examples so the student can explore and apply new approaches.
Review and adapt
Finally, they review what worked, refine the strategy and decide what the student will try independently.
Specialist study skills support pricing
The same hourly rate applies to both specialist roles. Referrals should confirm the approved role and number of hours.
SpLD study skills support
Specific Learning Difficulties role
Autism / ASC study skills support
SS:ASC role
The tutor supports the learning process—not the assessed answer
Specialist study skills support is not subject tuition, proofreading, editing or a way to have work rewritten. The tutor does not tell the student what argument to make, correct assessed content or guarantee grades.
In addition, study skills tutors do not diagnose, provide counselling or deliver specialist mentoring. Instead, they help the student develop transferable strategies while respecting academic integrity and institutional rules.
Areas a study skills tutor can explore
Every plan is individual. However, specialist study skills support commonly includes these practical areas.
Breaking tasks into stages, prioritising work and creating realistic plans.
Previewing sources, reading with a purpose and recording useful information.
Organising ideas, creating structure and developing a repeatable drafting routine.
Estimating work, starting tasks, managing competing deadlines and reviewing progress.
Choosing active revision methods and spacing practice across available time.
Preparing for changing timetables, new modules, placements or less structured study.
Funding, qualifications and university duties
The funding route and legal framework depend on where the student ordinarily lives and studies.
DSA and other funding
DSA may fund non-medical help where it addresses an assessed, study-related disability cost. Nevertheless, support is not automatic: students should follow their needs-assessment report and entitlement or award letter. A university may also commission support directly.
Current practitioner requirements
UMO matches the practitioner to the approved role and checks current mandatory qualifications, professional membership and continuing professional development requirements. We do not treat SpLD and SS:ASC credentials as interchangeable.
Reasonable adjustments
DSA does not replace a university's duties to disabled students. The Equality Act 2010 applies in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has separate disability-discrimination legislation, including SENDO. Institutions should take advice relevant to their nation and circumstances.
Trusted information for students and referrers
These official and independent sources explain funding, specialist roles and disabled-student support.
Questions about specialist study skills support
Clear answers for students, disability teams, needs assessors and other referrers.
Role and sessions
Is a study skills tutor the same as a subject tutor?
No. A subject tutor teaches course content. By contrast, a specialist study skills tutor helps the student develop transferable ways to approach planning, reading, writing, organisation and other study processes.
What is the difference between the SpLD and autism/ASC roles?
They are separate formal support roles with different qualification routes. The tutor must meet the current requirements for the role that has been recommended and approved for the student.
Can the tutor proofread or edit assessed work?
No. The tutor may help the student develop their own checking process or understand general academic conventions. However, they do not correct, edit or rewrite assessed work.
Is this counselling or specialist mentoring?
No. Study skills sessions focus on academic strategies. Counselling, therapy and specialist mentoring have different purposes, boundaries and practitioner requirements.
Referral, funding and delivery
Do I need a diagnosis or DSA award?
For DSA-funded support, the funding body decides eligibility and the approved provision using its current evidence and assessment process. UMO can also discuss university-funded referrals, but does not diagnose conditions or decide DSA entitlement.
Can sessions be remote or in person?
UMO can discuss remote delivery across the UK and in-person support in London, subject to the exact role, referral arrangements, timetable and tutor availability.
Can one tutor provide both SpLD and ASC support?
Only where that practitioner independently meets the current requirements for both roles and UMO has verified this. Holding approval for one role does not by itself qualify someone for the other.
What information does UMO need?
UMO normally needs the approved role, number of hours, funding or purchase-order details, delivery preference, timetable and relevant access information. We request only the information needed to arrange and deliver support.
Arrange role-matched study skills support
Send UMO the approved SpLD or SS:ASC role, number of hours, preferred delivery method and timetable. We will confirm the appropriate practitioner and next steps.