Assessment

Our Vision

At Heyes Lane Primary School, assessment is an ongoing and essential part of everyday classroom practice. It helps us understand where children are in their learning, celebrate what they have achieved and plan the next steps to support the progress of every child. We believe that assessment should be meaningful, supportive and inclusive, ensuring all children feel confident, motivated and successful throughout their learning journey.

There are three main types of assessment used in school:

• In-school formative assessment – This takes place during learning and is used to identify what children know, understand and can do. It enables teachers to adapt their teaching, address misconceptions and provide timely support, helping pupils make strong progress.
• In-school summative assessment – This takes place after a sequence of learning and measures what children have achieved. At Heyes Lane Primary School, summative assessments are completed at the end of each term and are used alongside teacher assessment to inform future teaching and monitor progress over time.
• National statutory assessments – These take place at specific points during a child's primary education, including the Reception Baseline Assessment, Phonics Screening Check, Multiplication Tables Check and the statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage 2. These assessments provide information about pupils' attainment and progress and contribute to national performance data where appropriate.

Principles

Formative Assessment (Assessment for Learning)

Formative assessment happens every day in the classroom and is a key part of how we support children’s progress. It allows teachers to adapt teaching in the moment to meet the needs of all learners.

Learning Journeys
Why? So that children know where they are in their learning, where they are going and how they will get there.

Questioning
Why? So that we can check understanding, see where children are up to and respond by providing extra support or moving learning on.

Self and Peer Assessment
Why? So that children develop independence, take ownership of their learning and become reflective learners.

Feedback
Why? So that children understand what they have done well and what they need to do next to improve, helping to move learning forward.

Summative Assessment (Assessment of Learning)

Summative assessments take place at the end of a term or teaching programme.

These assessments:

• Identify what children have successfully learned
• Highlight any gaps in knowledge or understanding
• Inform planning for the next term’s teaching
• Help teachers provide targeted support or additional consolidation where needed

This ensures that all children continue to build securely on their learning over time.

Reception Baseline Assessment ( EYFS)

In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework, children in Reception complete two statutory assessments during the school year: the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) at the beginning of Reception and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) at the end of the year.

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) is completed within the first six weeks of starting school. It is a short, practical, one-to-one assessment that provides a snapshot of each child's early literacy, communication and language, and mathematical understanding. The assessment is used nationally to measure pupils' progress from Reception to the end of Key Stage 2.

At the end of the Reception year, teachers complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP). This is based on ongoing observations and assessment throughout the year and provides a well-rounded picture of each child's development and readiness for Year 1.

Children are assessed against the 17 Early Learning Goals and are judged as either:

• Expected – meeting the expected level of development.
• Emerging – not yet reaching the expected level of development.

Reception Baseline Assessment Information for Parents 

Y1 Phonics Screening Check

Children take part in the Phonics Screening Check during the summer term of Year 1. This is a short, statutory assessment that assesses children's ability to decode words using their phonics knowledge. It consists of 40 words, including both real and pseudo (alien) words.

If a child does not meet the expected standard, they will continue to receive phonics support and will have the opportunity to re-take the Phonics Screening Check during the summer term of Year 2.

Y6 KS2 National Curriculum Assessments

At the end of Year 6, children complete the statutory Key Stage 2 national curriculum tests (SATs) in English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), English reading and mathematics.

These assessments measure pupils' attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 and help us identify their strengths and any areas where further support may be needed. The results are also used nationally to measure school performance and to produce national performance data.

The tests are completed during a nationally set assessment week each year.

At the end of the summer term, parents and carers receive their child's assessment outcomes as part of the end-of-year report, including results for:

• English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
• English Reading
• Mathematics

As there is no national test for English writing, this is reported as a teacher assessment judgement, based on each child's work and attainment throughout Year 6. This provides a comprehensive picture of their writing ability at the end of Key Stage 2.

For further information about School Performance Tables please refer to the Department for Education’s (DfE) website: 

Compare School Performance Service

Multiplication Tables Check (Year 4)

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory assessment for all pupils in Year 4.

The purpose of the check is to determine whether children can recall their multiplication tables fluently up to 12 × 12, an essential skill that supports future success in mathematics. The results help us identify any pupils who would benefit from additional support before moving into Upper Key Stage 2.

The check is completed online during a nationally set assessment window each summer term. It is designed to be quick and low-pressure, with pupils answering 25 multiplication questions.

We will share further information with parents and carers, including guidance on how to support children at home, before the check takes place each year.

Multiplication Tables Check Information for Parents