Assessment
Non-Statutory Assessment
In all year groups teachers continually assess pupil performance in all subjects so that they can plan for and support pupils’ learning effectively.
Statutory assessment
Reception Statutory Baseline Assessment
The purpose of the reception baseline assessment is to provide an on-entry assessment of pupil attainment to be used as a starting point from which a cohort-level progress measure to the end of key stage 2 (KS2) can be created. The reception baseline is designed as a suitable assessment to be taken by pupils during their first half term in reception (the academic year in which they turn 5). We carry out the reception baseline assessment in a relaxed and informal manner and find the children enjoy the 1:1 time with their teacher.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Profiles
The primary purpose of the EYFS profile assessment is to support a successful transition from the EYFS to year 1. At the end of reception teachers must give year 1 teachers a copy of each child’s EYFS profile, including: a record of the child’s outcomes against the 17 ELGs, stating for each ELG whether the child is:
- meeting ‘expected’ levels or
- not yet reaching expected levels (‘emerging’)
Year 1 Phonics Screening check
Year 1 pupils have a test to determine their levels of phonic knowledge. The Phonics Screening check is a short assessment to confirm whether individual pupils have reached an appropriate standard in phonic decoding. The children are assessed by their teacher in much the same way they would normally have their reading skills assessed.
The check identifies the children who need extra help so that we can plan additional support for them to improve their reading skills. Those identified will retake the check at the end of Year 2. It also means that schools track pupils until they are able to decode.
KEY STAGE 1 National Curriculum tests (Non-statutory from 2024)
Key Stage 1 pupils are assessed in the Summer Term of Year 2 when they are 6/7 years old. The teacher assesses their performance in reading, spelling, writing, mathematics and science according to the National Curriculum levels. Parents are informed of the results when they receive their child’s report. The average pupil will be ‘Working at the Expected Standard’ for a pupil in Y2.
Year 4 Multiplication tables check
The purpose of the multiplication tables check is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.
KEY STAGE 2 National Curriculum tests (SATs)
Key Stage 2 pupils are assessed in Year 6 when they are 10/11 years old. Formal testing takes place in May for English (reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar) and mathematics. Parents are informed of the test results and the class teacher’s assessments along with the national averages for comparison. Children are also assessed in writing and science. The average pupil will be ‘Working at the Expected Standard’ for a pupil in Y6, in preparation for secondary education.
