1. Needs Assessment
Practice
Session 1

2. vNAP aims
 to increase confidence and develop good practice
in the assessment of learners’ needs.
 to equip participants with relevant knowledge of
the factors which facilitate and inhibit learning.
 to hone participants’ skills in evidence gathering
and report writing.
 to enable participants to undertake effective
‘remote’ (‘virtual’) assessments.

3. Session themes
1. What is ‘Needs Assessment’?
2. A framework for NAP
3. Gathering and interpreting evidence
4. Applying the Needs Assessment Model: Dyslexia
5. Meeting needs by making recommendations
6. Reporting findings and acquiring resources

4. Assessment

5. Deadlines

6. Starting points
In your breakout group, discuss your own
‘needs’ in relation to this vNAP course.
Take into account:
past experience
present context
strengths and weaknesses
course demands
goals
concerns

7. Why Assess?
 To establish learning/course objectives
 To agree learning (and teaching) goals
 To gather evidence of support needs
 To understand the impact of these needs
 To inform study method/approaches
 To help students develop an awareness of
their strengths and weaknesses and
preferred learning styles

8. Purposes of Assessment
 Screening: identify students at risk
 Diagnostic: confirm the presence of a
‘condition’ and start to address implications
 Outcome-based: provide baseline
indicator of level of functioning
 Needs-led : identify appropriate actions
 Progress Monitoring: determine
progress and intervention outcomes

9. Principles of Assessment
 Needs Assessment should respect the right of
the student to make choices and expect that the
student will take responsibility.
 Needs Assessment policy should reflect the
principle of equal opportunities and comply with
relevant legislation.
 Needs Assessment practice should reflect the
‘social model’ and take a contextual perspective.

10. What are you looking
for?
In your breakout group:
Discuss, then summarise on your
whiteboard, the information and
‘evidence’ you think you should be
seeking when you conduct a needs
assessment.

11. Top Tips
 ‘Know’ your candidate: access to educational
history, previous reports, referral details.
 Pace/timing: how much? how soon? how long?
 Purpose and focus: why? what for?
 Reality check: motivation; ambition; expectation;
commitment; priorities.
 Understand the impact of environment

12. Fit for purpose
 In your breakout group, come up with
a list of the ‘ingredients’ that form the
basis of a good needs assessment.
 Discuss what steps the assessor can
take to create a conducive
environment.

13. Virtual assessment
 Distance
 Relationship
 Reassurance
 Confidence
 Comfort
 Demonstration

14. What next?
 Session2
 A Framework for NAP