The Assessment Process
Having worked in nursery, primary and secondary school settings for many years a key priority is putting children and young people at ease. Younger children can often be nervous working with a new person and anxious about the process, whilst teens are sometimes self-conscious and fear failure. In addition to putting the young person at ease and establishing a positive relationship, the assessment process is presented as a series of enjoyable tasks, games and puzzles in addition to some school based work.
Prior to the assessment I like to met with parents to discuss any problems their child may be experiencing or with older students barriers to learning are discussed with the individual themselves. This will focus upon current concerns and difficulties as well as details related to early development, medical history and educational achievement.
This is then followed up with a standardised questionnaire produced by the JCQ which is the Joint Council For Qualifications. This will provide further information about your child’s history. Often this will be completed by the school as well or where assessment is arranged by the school they may provide these details, however for private consultations parents may opt for the school not to be involved.
The Report
The testing process itself usually takes around 2 hours and can be conducted at my home, a location of your choice or at your child’s school. Within 3 weeks of the assessment you will receive a detailed report setting out a complete overview of your child as a learner. This will include test scores, highlight strengths and areas of difficulty, including specific barriers to learning and recommendations. These recommendations can be used to highlight your child’s needs to the school and will set out specifically recommended interventions. The report will also prove invaluable in securing access arrangements for public examinations. Given my experience as an Exams Officer I am very happy to support parents and schools in applying for special considerations.