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Receive feedback and recommendations in a report

You will receive an email when the report is ready to read. This should happen around 3 days after the peer review takes place.

See an example discovery peer review report (opens in new tab).

What to expect in a report

The report will contain 3 sections.

These include a summary of how the team have demonstrated an understanding of users and their needs. And, how the team have understood the problem space.

The discovery will also be given an overall RAG (red, amber green) status with a description of what this means. Including specific recommendations the team need to action.

Discovery RAG status descriptions

Red

There are serious concerns or recommendations the team should address before continuing. The team may want to consider escalating issues or problems to their senior responsible officer or senior leadership team. They might want to consider stopping the discovery at this point

Amber

There are some recommendations. At this point, the team may want to look at whether or not they continue or revisit the purpose of the discovery. This may result in running another discovery or evidencing improvements in an alpha assessment.

Green

The team is on the right track.

Accept or challenge the report

Once you've read the report, the product or delivery manager have 10 working days to accept or challenge it.

To accept the report

If the team agree with what's written in the report, you can accept it on your dashboard (opens in new tab) in the Service assessment plus service.

To challenge the report

Email the service assessment team at serviceassessment.plus@education.gov.uk to arrange next steps. They'll set up a meeting for the team with the panel to talk through the report. You will need to agree any changes to the report with the panel before you accept it.

What happens next

Once the report has been accepted, it will automatically be published in the reports section (opens in new tab) of the Service assessment plus service. The team can then follow any recommendations and next steps. Depending on the outcome, the team may be asked on a regular basis to provide evidence of actioning recommendations.

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Updated: February 2023

Part of Service assurance: step by step

1. 1 Check what assurance you need

   All digital delivery work in DfE will need some kind of assurance.

   1. Types of assurance
   2. Check what assurance you need for your service
   3. Why you need to assure your work

2. 2 Prepare for a discovery peer review

   1. What a discovery peer review is

   If you're a team having a peer review.

   1. Who should attend a peer review
   2. What to prepare for a peer review

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Your role as an assessor

3. 3 Book and manage a discovery peer review

   You need to give at least 5 weeks notice when booking a peer review.

   1. Book your peer review online
   2. Manage your peer review online

4. 4 After a discovery peer review

   If you're a team having a peer review.

   1. Receive feedback and recommendations in a report
   2. How to take action on any recommendations

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Complete the report

   Everyone involved in the peer review.

   1. Give feedback on the discovery peer review process

5. 5 Prepare for a service assessment

   Service assessments are done in the alpha, public and private beta, and live phases.

   1. What a service assessment is
   2. DfE panel assessments
   3. Cross-government panel assessments previously GDS/CDDO assessments

6. 6 Book a service assessment

   You need to give at least 6 weeks notice when booking a service assessment.

   1. Book your service assessment online

7. 7 After a service assessment

   If you're a team having a service assessment.

   1. Receiving the assessment report
   2. How to take action on any recommendations
   3. If you need a reassessment

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Completing the assessment report
   2. Reassessing the service