Initial assessment is only any good if it is ongoing...

To properly personalise learning, a comprehensive and effective Initial assessment and ongoing review (IAOR) process is needed, to fully understand learners and their needs, to help them plan their learning and support to help them to succeed.

IAOR is a continual process, where a learner’s starting point and needs, together with a learning and support plan are identified with the learner, and then regularly reviewed and amended as the learner progresses. This process is especially important for learners without qualifications, who are less likely to feel they had control over what and how they learned in the past.    

Scoping Strengths and Weaknesses in Initial Assessment and Ongoing Review to inform models and requirements for the Foundation Learning Tier. LSC May 2007. Full Report   Executive Summary This report investigated this fully and led to the development of resources and support for practitioners.  

Analysis from this study produced a set of characteristics of effective IAOR; nine principles which should underpin the operation of all IAOR; and a set of recommendations to support the success of IAOR in Foundation Learning - though these principles can be applied to all adult learning.

The study found good practice and strengths in IAOR but also noted a number of weaknesses. Initial assessment, especially of key and basic skills, was generally consistent and thorough. But IAOR should be about gaining an understanding of the whole person, and the assessment of other aspects was often less effective. Moreover insufficient use was made of the results to plan an individual programme of learning and support that would help learners to progress.

Ongoing review was generally less consistent and thorough, was not always clearly connected to initial assessment outcomes or integrated with learning and achievements, and there was little evidence that it led to changes and amendments to learning plans.

The report concludes that effective IAOR is essential to the success of Foundation Learning and that IAOR must be conceived as a whole, continual process which is integral to learning and achievement.