We offer a wide range of assessment approaches to best meet the needs of individual pupils across all educational phases. We can look at a range of areas including literacy, maths, language development and emotional and social development. Our Consultant Teachers in SEND are trained to administer and interpret formal assessments, having completed the level 7 Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) qualification, as well as being registered as test users with the British Psychological Society. Alongside formal assessment approaches, we draw on informal approaches to provide further qualitative and dynamic assessment information.
Another valuable form of assessment is observation. We use observation to inform our advice to schools, alongside discussions with key partners including pupils, staff and families. Pupil voice is an important part of the assessment process; we gain pupils’ views in appropriate ways, and include them in reports. We provide assessment work for young people of all ages, and generate professional advice reports for schools, which are then shared with home.
Assessments are often requested when a pupil is encountering difficulties with learning, and their school/family would like to know more information as to why that might be. Assessments may also relate to formal processes such as an education, health and care needs assessment (an EHCP application). As well as focusing on learning development, we are often asked to look into other areas of need, such as social, emotional, behavioural, communication and language development. We aim to provide a ‘holistic’ view of pupils’ needs; some assessments are wide-ranging, while at other times we are asked to focus on one or a small number of factors (e.g., just literacy or social and emotional development). We are flexible and responsive, and will design the assessment approach with the needs of each pupil in mind.