Why we need assessments
Assessments help us to identify a child's educational needs.
An assessment looks at:
- how your child learns
- what they have already learned
- what and how to teach them next
- how they respond to individual learning programmes
We monitor your child's responses to teaching so we can tailor teaching to how your child is learning.
How assessments work
Teachers continually complete assessments for all children. They get support from special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCo) and the Inclusion and Early Intervention Team (IEI),
SENCos:
- supports class and subject teachers to adjust their teaching
- provides extra assessment
- co-ordinate extra and different arrangements to address identified needs
The IEI Team provides:
- consultation, assessment, training and research services to support pupils and teachers
- advice about the collection and interpretation of assessment information and how to use it to determine teaching arrangements
- individual assessment which may involve focused classroom observations or working alongside the pupil in class or on their own
If we have a concern about your child’s learning
If we have concerns about your child’s learning, closer attention is given to the type and extent of support they need in order to succeed.
We take into account what they have been able to learn so far and will review all assessment information with you / carers and teachers.
In many cases, this will lead to new ideas and strategies for school staff and parents to use.
Sometimes a more specialist assessment may be needed by external specialists like:
- advisory teachers
- speech and language therapists
- occupational therapists
- educational psychologists
Exceptional action assessment
If a previous assessment hasn’t had a successful outcome, an exceptional action assessment is sometimes used to make clear:
- your child's needs
- the involvement of other agencies with your child
- the involvement of other educational provisions with your child
- the educational arrangements required to meet the identified needs of your child, and the resources required to make these
- any intervention required from other agencies to meet your child's identified needs
Record of need and what it means
A record of need is required where an exceptional action assessment indicates that we should:
- specify your child's needs
- determine the educational arrangements required to meet the identified needs
- determine the resources to be allocated to make these arrangements, including possible involvement of other educational provisions
- specify involvement of external agencies
- determine the arrangements by which your child’s progress will be monitored
How to appeal a record of need
If you wish to appeal the content of the assessment or the educational arrangements offered, you have 15 days in which to make a written appeal to the Education Minister.
If an appeal hearing is necessary your circumstances will be reviewed by an appeals panel.
The panel will be made up of:
- either the Head of Inclusion or the Principle Educational Psychologist
- either the Minister or Assistant Minister for Education
- an independent member of high standing in the community
The decision of the appeals panel is final and you can’t request a further appeal.
However, if you feel you’ve not had a fair hearing, you may complain to the States of Jersey Complaints Board.
It’s up to the board whether or not they accept the case and hold a hearing or not.
gov.je