As a Needs Assessor I have to agree with everything Steve and Kath have said.
The report does need to justify items but it also helps considerably if we
work with and talk to LEA staff. I try to do this and as a result often get
asked for advice by LEAs on how they might handle an unusual case and
sometimes I will call an LEA prior to undertaking an assessment to ensure
that we have an understanding of 'terms of reference' especially, for
example, in cases when students have had a previous award or a previous
assessment but have changed course.
Not all LEA staff are knowledgable about the technology but that does not
mean that they can't understand the benefits of receommendations if they are
justified and explained in the report.
Fortunately there are discussion groups forming around the country in
addition to the DfES initiative which should help to clarify the 'rules' and
improve communication.
Mick Trott
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