However, those starting University, who had no formal diagnostic assessment, required evidence of their Specific Learning Difficulty to access the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) and through this to be eligible for Specialist Study Skill Support. In addition, they needed this evidence for their exam access arrangements, e.g. 25% extra time. Remote assessments began their first usage in England, originally called Evidence of Need assessments (EoNs). The assessment industry began to offer Digital assessment resources more widely, and many adults and children became more familiar with platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams etc. I began to undertake such assessments and have continued to do so.
Where are we now?
From March 2021 diagnostic assessments carried out remotely by a video platform (I use Zoom), have been accepted. This is provided they follow the same assessment tools and report format as those assessments conducted face to face. Whilst some people will still prefer their child to have an assessment in a physical space with the assessor, many older children and adults prefer the ability to have a remote assessment in their own space. Therefore, a remote diagnostic assessment holds the same value and significance as one undertaken when sharing the same physical space. In addition assessments can be a combination of both- remote or in person.
Is a remote assessment right for you or your child?
A remote assessment from the comfort of your home can save travel time, reducing tiredness, in what is for some a long testing process. A facilitator, often a parent, can sit in the room for children whose IT skills are less well developed, although I would suggest students under Year 5 are too young unless there are exceptional circumstances. For example, a young student who has Autistic Spectrum Disorder may be more relaxed in their home environment and prefer the lack of physical proximity. Older students read more online than in books, for their studies, and are used to navigating online learning tools for homework, such as Sparx Maths and Google Classroom.
You are invited to complete an assessment enquiry form here, and we shall be in touch to discuss the process: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__bUEnCxUMlBGR01ETFVVN1Q3T0tMSUZNM0I2R0w5Ti4u
Want to know more?
- Complete the form above and we will be in touch.