Including children and young people in assessments: a practical guide

The ability to interact with children and young people (CYP), appropriately examine and competently interpret signs is an essential skill for many medical practitioners and allied healthcare professionals; yet, how do we ensure competence in our students and trainees? One method is to include CYP in both formative and summative assessments; this provides an invaluable opportunity for examiners not only to evaluate the clinical interaction but also to gain an understanding of the CYP experience and what characteristics they value in a 'good children's doctor'. This paper explores the benefits and challenges of involving CYP in assessments and provides practical advice for course organisers, assessors and students when encountering CYP in assessment.