What Is the Purpose of Initial Assessment and What Kind of Methods Could Be Used? Evaluate These Methods with Reference to the Ways They Can Help in the Overall Objective of Achieving Learning Goals. How Can You Ensure

|There are many principles of assessment should be valid, Validity ensures that assessment tasks and associated criteria effectively |

Initial assessment is the starting point of a learning journey. The information gathered provides a base on which to plan your learner’s progress. Initial assessment is very important so you find out the learners individual needs in order for you to support them appropriately.

Assessment plays a significant role in the learning experience of students. It determines their progression through their programmes and enables them to demonstrate that they have achieved the intended learning outcomes. It is assessment that provides the main basis for public recognition of achievement, through the awarding of qualifications and/or credit.

Unit 1- 1.1, 1.2-This is a reflective account of the things I have done, experience and knowledge I have gained throughout the assessor 's course mainly during the process of assessment. First, I would like to describe the definition of assessment, its key concepts, stages to show the knowledge and understanding I have gained throughout the course. An assessment is a pre-agreed formal session with the learner. Assessment is judging performance against an agreed standard and is also a way of finding out if learning has taken place. It enables yo assessor to ascertain if learner has gained

Feedback is a vital part of the assessment process as it gives the assessor an idea of if the learner has met the criteria set and if they haven’t, what action is needed to achieve the criteria.

The assessment strategy should state how the subject should be assessed, and subsequent results recorded. It should also state the experience, professional development and qualifications that assessors should hold. Quality assurance requirements, for example internal and external verification or moderation, will also be stated. Organisation may also have an assessment policy which an assessor should familiarise him/herself with.

4) Assessment: the assessor must ensure that learner achievement and progression is checked throughout the learning process (formative assessment) and at the end of the course or programme (summative assessment). The assessment methods have to be fair, reliable and valid and linked to the planned assessment tasks. The assessor has the responsibility to ensure that learners are aware of the requirements and know how to meet the assessment criteria.

An initial or diagnostic assessment establishes the starting point and ascertains the student’s previous skills and knowledge. This enables the student to see how much he/she achieves during the course, it also fosters a more reflective approach to learning and enables the teacher to effectively plan the individual student’s needs. The teacher can then review the students’ progress and achievements, which improves the quality of teaching

This process of assessment assists in ensuring that the class room is inclusive, with all learner needs being met. Each learner is unique and individual and if the needs of the learner are discovered and catered for there is an increased chance of success, in my opinion Initial Assessment, can make the difference between failure and success.

At any stage of the assessment process the progress of the learner can be reviewed and plans can be amended, updated or changed in agreement with the learner and according to need. This allows: learners to raise issues relevant to their needs for completion of the qualification; assessors opportunities to amend assessment plans if it becomes necessary; and flexibility if environmental or other factors arise (such as issues relating to any third party involved in the

The function of assessment in learning and development is to provide a measurable way of planning and supporting students’ progress. Assessment is carried out by means of checks and tests carried out throughout the course. Assessors should provide feedback throughout ensuring that learning is occurring and the learner is at the correct level. It is also important that assessor’s decisions are also consistently reviewed and internally and externally verified.

When planning assessments you will need to take a holistic approach, you will need to make sure assessment is specific to a qualification, it needs to be clear and relevant to the topic being taught. The assessment also needs to be measurable, you will need to be able to give a pass/fail or grade on any assessment given and show any areas not covered during the training. Assessment and to be achievable, the level of difficulty needs to match the candidates being assessed as well as the importance of the qualification, four example children would possibly need easier assessments, but assessments concerning life-saving need to have a relative difficulties so the assessor knows that the learner could react in a real life situation. Realistic assessment, this is important when it comes to transferring skills learnt in the classroom to a real life situation, they need to be as real as possible where they can, Four example manikins used in CPR with given scenarios from real life case studies. And finally assessments need to be time bound, assessment dates and times are agreed, this is to incorporate preparation time (Not too much – not too little).

1.1 Analyse the role and use of initial and diagnostic assessment in agreeing individual learning goals,

* This is to determine if the delivery and assessment meets the requirements of the standards or assessment criteria , the whole assessment process needs to be accutat, consistate, safe and meets all organisation requirements.

Assessment is often thought of as a punitive exercise. But the purpose of assessment is to ensure that students meet specific standards of progress and to rectify learning deficits before a child falls too far behind. Assessment can also identify a child's strengths as well as his or her weaknesses. As well as comparing the child's performance with his or her peers, the teacher can assess specific learning needs, learning styles, interests, aptitudes, and other critical components of the child's developing learning personality.