Teachers are highly skilled at meeting the needs of all pupils, through a combination of having high expectations, teaching lessons full of pace and challenge, and making outstanding use of assessment to give pupils consistently clear guidance on how well they have done and how they can improve their work.
Changes to assessment
In 2014 the government introduced a new curriculum which had fresh content and ambitious expectations of learning. This has also led to changes in assessment. Levels( L1,2,3,4 and 5) have been removed and schools have been allowed to design an assessment system that fits with their curriculum. The rationale for the removal of lessons is:
How will we assess?
We are using ’Depth of learning‘ to assess your child’s learning. We assess their progress by reviewing the depth of their understanding. All learning is grouped into 3 milestones. Within each milestone the children are assessed at the level of understanding of a concept in the curriculum. This is at basic, advancing or deep. All children start at milestone at basic, They are acquiring new skills and need more support. Once they have demonstrated this level of understanding multiple times they move to advancing stage. Some children may reach a deep level of thinking by the end of the milestone.
Year group | Assessment | Outcome | ||
Reception |
Early Learning Goals Not changed |
Expected | Emerging | Exceeded |
Year 1 and year 2 | Milestone 1 | Basic | Advancing | Deep |
Year 3 and Year 4 | Milestone 2 | Basic | Advancing | Deep |
Year 5 and Year 6 | Milestone 3 | Basic | Advancing | Deep |
All children will be expected to make good progress form their starting point:
End of EYFS | Milestone 1 | Milestone 2 | Milestone |
Emerging | Basic 2 | Advancing 1 | Advancing 1 |
Expected | Advancing 2 | Advancing 2 | Advancing 2 |
Exceeding | Deep1/2 | Deep 1/2 | Deep1/2 |
These are assessed by formative assessment (through the learning they have done in class) an through more formal summative assessments (tests taken at the end of a learning point).
What are Statutory tests?
At different points in a child’s school life the school is required by the government to “test” children and report the information.
When | What | How |
End of Reception
(End of Early Years) |
Early Learning Goals | Through observations throughout the year of the child’s learning |
End of Year 1 (Re-check in year 2 for those not yet at expected standard) |
Phonics Screening Check |
Through 1:1 assessment of phonics with a teacher (for 1 week in June) |
End of Year 2 (End of KS1) |
Maths test Reading Test NEW** Grammar, Spelling and punctuation test |
Through small groups administered by teacher during May and June (school decides when) |
End of Year 6 (End of KS2) |
Maths test—calculation paper, reasoning paper, mental maths test Reading test Grammar, Punctuation and spelling test |
In larger groups with known school adult 1 week in May |