Nursery World - Why become an assessor?In demand

In my experience of training and assessing assessors, the main benefit has been to see candidates achieving their goals. Usually this is reward enough. However, assessment also provides professional development benefits. These can include enhancing personal skills which involve leadership, team work and communication. It can also help you to identify key improvements and put best practice into action. Where exchanging ideas and information is becoming increasingly important, the assessor award enables practitioners to meet other assessors and network. As far as an employer or manager is concerned, having an assessor on site can benefit the setting by helping them to carry out appraisals and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team. Best practice results when all staff are maximising their skills and developing short-, mid- and long-term development plans. Assessors can assist with contingency planning if someone leaves unexpectedly and there is a need to update the skills of others. As an assessor, you can also begin to identify and make the most of experience your team has gained in previous jobs. This often involves accrediting prior experience, particularly specialist skills, such as working with special educational needs.

As far as an employer or manager is concerned, having an assessor on site can benefit the setting by helping them to carry out appraisals and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team. Best practice results when all staff are maximising their skills and developing short-, mid- and long-term development plans. Assessors can assist with contingency planning if someone leaves unexpectedly and there is a need to update the skills of others. As an assessor, you can also begin to identify and make the most of experience your team has gained in previous jobs. This often involves accrediting prior experience, particularly specialist skills, such as working with special educational needs.

How to qualify

The A1 and A2 are offered as individual awards. The A1 level 3 award in assessing candidates uses a range of methods and replaces the old D32/33.

The A2 level 3 awards in assessing candidates' performance through observation replaces the old D32 award. Candidates need to have sufficient occupational competence in their field to undergo these awards.

The A1 award is appropriate if your role involves:

* Assessing candidates against agreed standards of competence using a range of assessment methods

* Giving feedback to candidates on your assessment decisions

* Contributing to the internal quality assurance processes.

The A2 award is appropriate if your role involves:

* Assessing candidates against the agreed standards

* Planning activities with candidates

* Giving candidates feedback on your assessment decisions.

Further information regarding assessors' awards is available from:

* Your local College of Further Education

* Learning and Skills Council - their 'Employers guide to training providers' helps assist in choosing the most suitable training provider for workforce needs (www.lsc.gov.uk/ National/Employer/Goodtraining.htm)

* The Institute of Assessors and Internal Verifiers (www.iavltd.co.uk)

* National Day Nurseries Association (www.ndna.org.uk)

* Children's Workforce Development Council/Early Years National Training Organisation (www.early-years-nto.org.uk) Dawn Weaver runs Aprilius Associates which handles writing and project management. For more information contact dawn@aprilius.co.uk.