assessmentpolicy

Assessment Policy
//Reviewed by TB/DB October 2006// //To be reviewed October 2009//

Assessment is a means by which the progress of pupil's learning is monitored. It is used to inform planning, teaching and learning.

Why do we assess?
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 * To find out what our children know and can apply.
 * To reveal the children's strengths and weaknesses.
 * To inform future planning and target setting: to ensure continuity and progress.
 * To communicate accurate information about the children that is useful to teachers, parents, pupils and relevant educational agencies.
 * To comply with statutory requirements.
 * To assist staff in evaluating their planning and teaching.
 * To help set targets for improvement.
 * To develop a culture of self improvement.

Strategies for assessment
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 * Observation - watching the children on task / recording these observations with digital video cameras in the Foundation unit.
 * Questioning and discussion with the children.
 * Examining the children's work.
 * Marking the children's work according to the marking policy.
 * Teacher devised tests e.g. spelling and tables.
 * Statutory formal assessments: Foundation Stage Profiles (FSP) in the foundation stage, SATs at Y2 and Y6
 * Non statutory tests: QCA tests for Years 3, 4 and 5
 * Selective use of commercial tests e.g. MiniSATS / TestBase
 * Half Termly assessment weeks.
 * Intervention packages throughout school e.g. WAVE 3, Parents Reading Partnership, Brain Gym

Moderation

 * Takes place regularly. Subject coordinators analyse a selection of children's work.
 * Work is checked against NC levels and the ELGs for coverage and attainment.
 * Coordinators from the different Key Stages work together to ensure continuity and progression.
 * Analysis of year group tests.
 * Subject coordinators released during assessment week.

Records

 * Assessment Manager.
 * Year group files.
 * SATs analysis records
 * In Foundation 1 each child has a "Look What I have Done in Nursery" booklet in which staff and parents can comment on achievement.
 * Other records, including Foundation Stage Profiles (FSP) and samples of work are kept in the assessment folders.

From Foundation 2 onwards, individual records are kept in the form of a folder and these contain: >
 * Foundation Stage Profile
 * End of year teaching assessments
 * SATs results
 * Optional SATs results and papers
 * Pieces of assessed work
 * MiniSATs / TestBase records

Target Setting
We set targets for:
 * Whole year groups e.g. Y6 SATs
 * Groups
 * Individuals
 * End of year reports

We share these targets with the children, parents, governors, whole staff, LA (Local Authority) and SIA (School Improvement Advisor)

Reporting to Parents

 * In F1 information on working towards the ELGs (Early Learning Goals) is shared through the "Look What I have Done in Nursery" booklet and parents meet with staff prior to the child's transfer to F2.
 * From F2 parents are invited to a meeting in the Autumn term to discuss the progress of and targets for their child.
 * In the Summer term parents receive a report on their child and they are given the opportunity to discuss the content of the report at parent's evening.
 * The parents of Year 2 and 6 children are informed of the SATs results.