British Paediatric Neurology Association
2003 Penultimate Year Assessments (PYA) in Paediatric Neurology

The STA paper 'Assessment of Doctors in Training' recommended that:

• 'All specialities should have one in-depth formal assessment (either an exit for the PYA to help ensure consistency within the speciality across all deaneries.'

• 'There must be external speciality involvement from outside the deanery for the PYA to help ensure consistency within the speciality across all deaneries.'

• The purpose of the PYA is to ensure that each SpR has a robust in-depth assessment in time for outstanding needs to be assessed for completion of training and to check that standards are consistent between deaneries.

• Deaneries should arrange a series of PYAs centrally, after preliminary workplace assessments by educational supervisors and tutors have been carried out. Each SpR should attend a PYA 12-18 months before CCST date.

This issue was discussed at the January and July 2002 meetigns of the Committee of Deanery Advisers in Paediatric Neurology when the idea of a centralised national process for undertaking a PYA was unanimously agreed. The first such PYAs would be held in London, probably at a time adjacent to the national grid interview process at the RCPCH in the week beginning 17 March 2003. The process should be 'robust' but it will obviously be desirable to avoid unnecessary formality.

These would need to involve:

• Trainees expecting achieve CCST between (?) September 2003 and March 2005 (if this was practicable). A further set of PYAs in March 2004 could then consider those due to complete training from March 2005 to March 2006.

• Educational supervisors and (where different) deanery advisers in PN.

• A panel of two or three external to the deanery and providing a consistent view from outside the training deanery (and not in this role for trainees from their own deanery).

Prior to the PYA, trainers and deanery advisers will need to provide a training report in a format similar to that suggested in the RCPCH 'Appraisal and Assessment' document. This is illustrated by the documents from the Manchester training scheme which also include a list of year specific experience and skills to be acquired that are appropriate to that particular scheme. A deadline of 1 March 2003 is suggested for reports to be received by the chair of the BPNA training committee.

Trainees will need to bring a portfolio (see section on portfolio in the RCPCH 'Appraisal and Assessment' document). All the relevant guidance can be found in the PN deanery advisers' induction pack.