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How to take action on any recommendations

The report will contain observations and recommendations from the panel. The panel will support the team with any recommendations made.

The report will also contain a RAG (red, amber, green) status as part of the outcome.

If discovery gets a red status

Depending on the concerns or recommendations, the team could:

• escalate issues or problems to their senior responsible officer or senior leadership team
• contact the lead assessor or relevant head of profession for support to plan next steps
• consider stopping the discovery

If discovery gets an amber status

Depending on the concerns or recommendations, the team could:

• contact the lead assessor or relevant head of profession for support
• revisit the problem the discovery is aiming to understand
• think about next steps for the discovery
• plan how to demonstrate actioning recommendations at an alpha assessment. Apply the Service Standard in DfE can help with this

If discovery gets a green status

The team is on the right track. Follow the service standard and think about the next phase of delivery.

If the team want 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 so that you can talk through the report.

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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