How do we assess pupils' learning?
Our school welcomed the changes in the National Curriculum in 2014 and saw it as an exciting opportunity to review our assessment and reporting systems to create a more holistic approach that makes sense to parents. We were very clear that whatever assessment tool we used, it needed to be robust and track pupils’ progress across the school and not just at the end of a Key Stage.
The principles that underpin our assessment system are:
Our assessment and reporting system includes:
All of the above feed into 'Data snap-shots', these will take place at class, phase and subject level three times a year, towards the end of each term.
In addition to the above assessments, pupils also complete the following statutory assessments:
No Levels
Alongside the introduction of the new National Curriculum, levels were removed for all Year Groups instead at the end of KS1 and KS2 pupils will be given a scaled score and a ‘performance descriptor’ against the expected standard.
In order to be ‘secondary ready’ children need to meet the required end of Key Stage 2 expectations; this is broken down into key outcomes for each curriculum year. We use the National Curriculum objectives to assess outcomes for children at the end of each curriculum year – for example:
We use "Steps" to assess pupils knowledge and track progress over time, against age-related expectations, in each core subject area.
Early Years - Nursery & Reception
Class teachers will use a combination of the EYFS profile and a baseline assessment to measure children's progress. We were one of the schools chosen to help develop the national Reception Baseline. For 2020-21 we are part of the Early Adopter EYFS Framework schools and will be following this curriculum to prepare for the national rollout in 2021-22.
Baseline:
The baseline assessment combined with the knowledge gained about the child through observing them in self chosen play and planned activities (formative assessment) will result in a view of a child’s baseline profile. By having a good understanding of the child’s abilities when they start school, class teacher's are able to measure each child's progress and plan for next steps in learning.
The baseline assessment is face-to-face with a mixture of tasks and observational checklists.
EYFS Profile:
The EYFS profile assessment is carried out in the final term of Reception
The main purpose of the EYFS profile is to provide a reliable, valid and accurate assessment of individual children at the end of the EYFS.
EYFS profile data is used to:
Inform parents about their child’s development against the early learning goals (ELGs) and the characteristics of their learning.
Help year 1 teachers plan an effective, responsive and appropriate curriculum that will meet the needs of each child.
Children in Nursery and Reception are assessed against the Prime and Specific areas of Learning in the EYFS profile, these are recorded on our on-line system, Interactive Learning Diary (ILD). We also focus on Characteristics of Learning which are the building blocks for how we develop as learners. Assessments are based on observation of activities and events. At the end of Reception for each Early Learning Goal, teachers will judge whether a child is meeting the level of development expected at the end of the Reception year:
Emerging, not yet reached the expected level of development
Expected
Exceeding, beyond the expected level of development for their age (not applicable for 2020-21 Early Adopter Framework)
Phonics Screening Check Year 1
The Phonics Screening Check demonstrates how well pupils can use the phonics skills they have learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify those who need extra phonics help.
The checks consist of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonics rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything.
The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple word structures of three or four letters, and one with more complex word structures of five or six letters.
Pupils will be scored against a national standard, and the main result will be whether or not they fall below, within or above this standard
Pupils who do not meet the required standard in Year 1 will be re-checked in Year 2.