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Dates for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 administration

January 2018

• 29th Jan - 'Access arrangements' on NCA tools opens

February 2018

• 19th Feb - KS2 'Pupil registration' on NCA tool opens
• 26th Feb - Deadline for schools to submit applications for KS2 early opening and compensatory marks
  

On 16th January, the DfE published a primary assessment information and resources guide to help teachers find online content for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two assessments.

Early Years Foundation Guide

The EYFS guide includes important dates for the EYFS test cycle and guidance to understand statutory requirements for the EYFS.  Read the full EYFS assessment guide here.

On 18th December 2017, the DfE released the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Handbook to support EYFS practitioners in making accurate judgements about each child's attainment in 2018.

The EYFS Profile Handbook gives:

• the child's attainment in relation to the 17 early learning goal (ELG) descriptors.
• a short narrative describing the child's 3 characteristics of effective learning.

Summary of the EYFS Profile:

• The EYFS Profile is not intended to be used for ongoing assessment.
• Practitioner's assessments are primarily based on observing children's daily activities, in particular learning spontaneously, independents and consistently to understand their level of attainment, interests and learning styles.

Thanks to John Dabell for this article.

‘Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3’ is the latest report from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and presents sharp, intelligent and actionable guidance to support “great maths teaching” in primary and secondary schools.

The guidance is relevant to all pupils but in particular to those children who fall below their expected level of mathematics achievement. The report adopts the premise that it is essential to see maths as a pump rather than a filter in the pipeline of education but this can only be achieved through tapping into what works and is supported by research.

A vital enabler in the strengthening of teaching, learning and assessment is good access to relevant evidence; this report can help guide teachers towards this as its key focus is to promote a culture of evidence-led best practice.

Using standardised testing to support teacher understanding

By Tyrone Samuel, Network Lead for Primary Data and Assessment

The new academic year is in full swing, and as we enter autumn 2, I have already visited the majority of our primary schools as the Network Lead for Primary Assessment and Data at Ark.

Autumn 1 has been as busy and intense as ever for me, supporting schools with their data analysis and training, bringing our assessment leads together to collaborate on good practice, as well as sharing key lessons, messages and insights. This has helped to focus minds on our Ark network mission, to make sure that every pupil can go to university or into the career of their choice by setting high expectations and striving to know every pupil.

The teacher assessment exemplification materials are now available for 2017/18. Follow the links below to download from the DfE website.