Analyse the Role and Use of Initial and Diagnostic Assessment in Agreeing Individual Learning Goals

Initial AssessmentAll learners are entitled to undergo a period of initial assessment. Initial assessment is the process of identifying an individual’s learning and support needs to enable the design of an individual learning plan which will provide the structure for their learning. In other words, it determines the learner’s starting point for their learning programme.Learning need are the skills, knowledge and competence which a learner needs to acquire during the course of their learning programme. Support needs are the additional help that a learner requires to enable; them to address barriers which may otherwise prevent them from fulfilling their learning programme. Initial assessment is a critical process because it represents the first stage in the learning cycle. Failure to accurately identify an individual’s learning needs may result in a learning plan and a learning programme, which does not address learning needs. The subsequent evaluation of learning and training is unlikely therefore to show any benefit to the learner. Initial assessment commences at point of entry, from the contact with the prospective leaner and continues until the point that of the individual learning plan is completed. Further learning and support needs will inevitably be identified through the review process and should be reflected in updates to individual learning plans. Initial assessment should take place over a number of days or weeks. It should not be confined to one session. The result from the initial would indicate what level of Maths and English the learner is working towards in which they are be enrolled on.DiagnosticOnce a learner has completed the initial assessment their level has been set. They will then continue to complete a diagnostic. A distinct form of measurement. Its purpose is to ascertain, prior to instruction, each student’s strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills. Establishing these permits the instructor to remediate students and adjust the curriculum to meet each learner’s unique needs. Therefore, gives a more detail breakdown of what the learner would need to improve on to enable them to achieve the current level set. The student should complete a brief essay explaining why it is important to identify and meet the individual needs of learners and how to use initial and diagnostic assessment in agreeing individual learning goals. (350 words minimum).