4. Initial Assessment

What is Initial Assessment?

Initial assessment will help identify a learner’s skills against a level or levels within the national standards. Learners may have different levels of reading, writing, numeracy and language skill.  Initial assessment is often used to help place learners in appropriate learning programmes.  It is usually followed by detailed diagnostic assessment.

Initial Assessment Pack for Literacy and Numeracy

ABSSU does not recommend specific tools for initial assessment. Rather we advise that providers use whichever initial assessment materials best suit their learners, provided the tools result in a reliable assessment of a learner's level in relation to the national standards, to enable accurate placement into provision at a suitable level.

For examples of tools, you may wish to refer to the following:

• The Basic Skills Agency (BSA) has now published a revised version of the initial assessment pack for literacy and numeracy mapped to the national standards for adult literacy and numeracy. Further information is available on the BSA website.
• Cambridge Training and Development (CTAD) have published 'Target Skills' Assessment materials. See the CTAD Target Skills website for details.
• West Nottinghamshire College have produced a Basic Keyskillbuilder - see the keyskillbuilder website for further information.

Initial Assessment for ESOL

The Unit will be developing an ESOL initial assessment tool. The development of materials and trials of pilot ESOL Initial Assessment tools will take place during 2003.