Literacy & Learning Centre Blog

FIVE REASONS WHY ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S READING, SPELLING, OR LEARNING

In March, the focus of at the Literacy and Learning Centre is on assessment.  Parents are often keen launch into tutoring or remedial work, and often question the benefit or need of putting their child through a sometimes lengthy and costly assessment process.  Below, five reasons why assessment is important when you are concerned about your child’s reading, spelling, or learning are identified. 

(1)       A comprehensive assessment accurately identifies why your child is having difficulties with reading, spelling and learning.  This is important because it identifies the best way to help your child.  A good assessment will also pinpoint areas of strength, which can be used in planning programmes and to build self-esteem.

(2)       An assessment is the first step in planning the best way to help your child and, when there are several areas of concern, can be a good way of deciding what to target first. 

(3)       Assessment results can form the basis for detailed recommendations about the best way your child’s school or existing tutor can provide assistance.   For parents seeking assistance outside of school, assessment results can also form the basis for remedial teaching / tutoring programmes.  For example, remedial teaching / tutoring programmes that are individualised to target each child’s particular difficulties with reading, spelling, or learning -rather than those using a “one size fits all” approach -- can help keep children engaged in the learning process and make learning more time efficient. 

(4)       Assessment results provide a baseline from which progress in tutoring or support programmes can be monitored.  This is crucial because it determines whether or not remedial programmes are effective.

(5)       Parents are important decision makers for their child and need to understand why their child is struggling to learn.  When assessment results are explained to parents in a way that is clear and easy to understand, parents become better advocates for their child.   Knowing exactly what sort of help to ask for can make it easier to get the right support for your child at school.

 If you are worried about any aspect of your child’s learning, firstly discuss these concerns with your child's class teacher or school support staff.  They will be able to tell you what support is available at the school, or help to direct you to specialised support in the private or health sectors.