Assessment

How we assess at Maidenhall?

In EYFS the children have a Baseline Assessment within the first six weeks of their arrival into Reception. This helps the teachers know what prior knowledge the children have on arrival in school.

At the end of EYFS prior to their transition to Year 1, pupils have an end of EYFS series of teacher judged attainment based on the Development Matters Framework. This informs the teaching in Early Years. 

In Year 1 the children sit a Phonics Screen Test - this is done in class at the end of Year 1 with an adult who is very familiar to them and who is trained in phonics. The children decode a series of short words, and there are 40 in total.  The national pass mark for this (i.e. when your child is considered to have reached an age-appropriate level for decoding) is 32. Pupils who do not pass the phonics screening in Year 1 retake it at the end of Year 2.

We do not teach to this test but instead follow our phonics teaching scheme consistently. However, when your child has done this assessment, the outcomes will be given to you in their annual report. Where a child has SEND or other social or emotional needs, we will discuss with parents and carers what the best path forwards is for them.  This might be to do the test later or even not at all if it is not appropriate. 

In Year 4 there is a Multiplication Tables Check.  By year 4 children are expected to have been taught their times tables up to 12 x 12. This is measured using a short online check during June each year. There is not a pass mark but the outcomes will be shared with parents; there are 25 questions and 6 seconds to answer each and type it in.  We do not tell the children when this is happening to them. 

In Year 6 children have Standard Assessment Tests (SAT's) in reading and mathematics as well as in English grammar, punctuation and spelling. These are linked to the curriculum they have learned from EYFS to the end of Year 6.  These are delivered in a formal way but often children are in smaller groups to ensure that they are not anxious.  Teachers also make judgements from pupils learning in class (including their books) to decide the attainment and progress of each pupil in writing and science. These results of these tests are shared with parents in the annual report. 

We share all assessment information with parents and carers and it is passed forwards to any new school the child subsequently attends.