30 th September 2015

* The new national curriculum, which was introduced in September 2014, sets high expectations for what teachers should teach, and gives them the freedom to decide how to teach. We trust teachers to use their professional judgement in deciding which approaches work best for their pupils. We’re taking the same approach to assessment; we will set high standards for what pupils should be able to achieve at the end of key stages, but between these points it is for schools to decide how to assess pupils against their curriculum.

* ongoing, teacher-led assessment is a crucial part of effective teaching; * schools should have the freedom to decide how to teach their curriculum and how to track the progress that pupils make; * both summative teacher assessment and external testing are important;

* National tests at the end of key stage 1 (in Year 2) in: mathematics; reading; grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS or SPaG). The tests are marked in school and are used to inform the teacher assessment of each child. * At the end of Year 2, you will be informed if your child is working towards the expected standard, working at the expected standard or working at greater depth within the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. You will also be informed if your child is working at the expected standard in science.

* Every child in Year 1, will have a phonics screening check in June If your child did not achieve the expected standard at the end of Year 1 in June 2015, they will have the screening check again in June Miss Willmer and the Year 1 team will give you more information about this later in the year. Any child in Year 2 who has to retake the phonics screening check will receive a letter with details later in the year. * These results will be reported to you with your child’s end of year report in July. * Wa (working at the expected standard) * Wt (working towards the expected standard)

Key StageSubjectNational Curriculum Test Key stage 1 (end of Year 2) Reading Externally set, internally marked test to inform teacher assessment. Teachers will make a teacher assessment of each child at the end of Year 2 and you will be informed if your child is working towards, at or at greater depth within the expected standard for the end of KS1 (see interim teacher assessment framework at the end of KS1 for reading). Key stage 1 (end of Year 2) Writing No writing test. The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test will inform the teacher assessment of writing. Teachers will make a teacher assessment of each child at the end of Year 2 and you will be informed if your child is working towards, at or at greater depth within the expected standard for the end of KS1 (see interim teacher assessment framework at the end of KS1 for writing). Key stage 1 (end of Year 2) Mathematics Externally set, internally marked test to inform teacher assessment. Teachers will make a teacher assessment of each child at the end of Year 2 and you will be informed if your child is working towards, at or at greater depth within the expected standard for the end of KS1 (see interim teacher assessment framework at the end of KS1 for mathematics). Key stage 1 (end of Year 2) ScienceNo science test. Teachers will make a teacher assessment of each child and you will be informed if your child is working at the expected standard (see interim teacher assessment framework at the end of KS1 for science).

* Working at greater depth or mastery, by definition means: A comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular subject or activity Mastery is the ability to blend skills and knowledge in a specific area of practice. Mastery is practice not knowledge alone.

Using the Interim Teacher Assessment Framework for the end of KS1 * They are designed to only be used to inform teacher assessment at the end of each key stage (end of Year 2 and end of Year 6). * At the end of Year 2, teachers will confirm which description matches a pupil’s overall attainment, based on a wide range of evidence drawn from classwork and independent work, including the outcomes of tests, throughout the year. * The interim teacher assessment frameworks do not include any aspects of performance from the programme of study for the following key stage (KS2/Year 3). * Any pupils considered to have attained ‘Working at greater depth within the expected standard’ are expected to explore the curriculum in greater depth and build on the breadth of their knowledge and skills within that key stage, putting into practice the skills they have acquired, across the curriculum.

* Teachers will continue to assess children’s attainment and progress in reading, writing, maths, science and GPS throughout the school year. Teachers will keep you informed of progress through parents’ evenings and share my work weekend but if you have any concerns and wish to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher, please call the school office to make an appointment. * Progress will be fed back to you by keeping you informed about what your child is doing well and what targets your child is working on. You will no longer be given levels, as they no longer are in use and do not match the new primary curriculum.

Teachers will use evidence from: * Objectives achieved in the passports (copies in your pack). These are all linked to the national curriculum programmes of study. There is a web link in your pack to the national curriculum programmes of study. * Work in children’s books, particularly work which has been completed independently.

* Your child’s end of year report will give an account of what your child is doing well and what their targets are in religion, English and maths. * For all other subjects, you will be informed if your child is working towards, at or above the national/expected standard. This is based on the teachers’ assessment of how your child is performing against the programme of study for that subject, for the skills listed. Those working at the national/expected standard will be confident in all skills within that subject for their year group.