1. How important is it for the attainment of your learners?

2. Objectives This workshop will explore the following: What works well ? Top tips and practical solutions How to adapt initial assessments tools to support your learners’ needs How to effectively use the initial assessment tools

3. Initial Assessment Initial assessment happens at the time of a learner’s transition into a new learning programme. It is a holistic process, during which you start to build up a picture of an individual’s achievements, skills, interests, previous learning experiences and goals, and the learning needs associated with those goals. This information is used as a basis for negotiating a course or programme. (Guidance for assessment and learning www.sflip.org.uk)

4. Initial Assessment For the Learner establishes the starting point so that the learner can see how much he/she achieves during the course fosters a more reflective approach to learning For the Tutor enables the tutor to effectively plan to meet individual learners’ needs establishes a starting point in order to review learners’ progress and achievements improves quality of teaching

5. Activity One In small groups reflect on and discuss the questions on the wheel hub Select the appropriate response cards and place them where you consider they might fit on the wheel Use the blank cards to write any additional responses Share your findings with all participants

6. Initial Assessment Wheel

7. Initial Assessment Using a range of assessment methods will enable you to capture a learner’s starting point tutor observations self assessment exercises group discussion one-to-one with tutor games and practical activities quiz and questionnaires Whichever method(s) you choose, it is important that initial assessment contains some form of skill/knowledge assessment which can be validated by the tutor. Before you choose or devise an assessment method think is it appropriate for the needs of the learner? is it appropriate for the dynamics of the group? are you, as a tutor, comfortable with this method? can it be easily recorded?

8. Examples of Initial Assessment Tools There are a wide variety of IA tools available: BSA West Notts CTAD Target Skills Read/Write/Plus Move-On mini test

9. SLLN Project Case study Context As part of the SLLN project in the North West one of the Lead Providers worked with a provider to improve their initial assessment procedures within their vocational courses. They had recently had a successful Ofsted inspection achieving an overall Grade 2; however the report highlighted the need to improve the use of skills checks and in particular Initial Assessments across the learning provision.

10. SLLN Project Case study The following questions needed to be answered: How to standardise IA? How to ensure all tutors were undertaking IA in all courses? What happens to the information? How is the information brought back to the core team? Some vocational tutors not confident in delivering IA?

11. SLLN Project Case study Process New policy written to identify and outline the new process and procedure relating to SfL initial assessment. Current referral processes already in place were reviewed. Requirement was for an appropriate, fit for purpose skills check that could be used with confidence across the service. The ‘Fast track’ 20 questions skills checklist was adapted to suit the provision. The skills checklist was piloted by 5 tutors from January 2011 across a range of courses: ICT, Arts & Craft, Employability, Wider Family Learning.

12. SLLN Project Case study Impact An evaluation of the pilot is on-going but preliminary feedback is positive. The tutors are continuing use the skills checklist with all courses. Referral to SfL provision has increased (data to be collated) Vocational tutors are confident in the use of the new system Identified staff who require training and development