SEND learners and their parents need just as much information on progress in learning – and it is a good reminder that schools are accountable for all learners, including those who are not developing typically.

The Department for Education has published their response to the primary assessment and Rochford Review consultations.

It confirms that the majority of Rochford’s recommendations have been accepted, including the removal of P-Levels for pupils working below national curriculum level. Meanwhile, KS1 Sats will be scrapped from 2023.

In its consultation response to the Rochford review, the government said it would make interim pre-key stage standards permanent for all pupils engaged in subject-specific learning. The small number of pupils who are not engaged in subject-specific learning will be assessed using the seven areas of cognition and learning.

A DfE spokesman said: that the changes, “will ensure there are appropriate assessment arrangements in place and there will be a pilot of a new approach to assessing the attainment of children with the most complex special educational needs.

Introducing these measures will help schools support these children to progress on to mainstream forms of assessment during primary school, if and when they are ready, ensuring no child is left behind.”

Read our response to the Rochford Review.

We welcome the government’s Equality impact assessment on primary assessment reforms, which we first called for last November when responding to the Education Committee’s inquiry on primary assessment.

DYT Consultant Teacher, Nancy Gedge said:  

“We welcome the decision to conduct a full Equality Impact assessment on any changes to primary assessment. This ensures that changes to primary assessment comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law. SEND learners and their parents need just as much information on progress in learning – and it is a good reminder that schools are accountable for all learners, including those who are not developing typically.”

Read our response to the primary assessment consultation

In their response on the matter, the government confirmed that it will:

  • Introduce a new teacher-mediated assessment in the reception year from 2020 to provide a baseline measure to better track pupils’ progress during primary school. The check, which will be developed in conjunction with the teaching profession, will ensure schools are given credit for all the work they do throughout a child’s time at primary school;
  • “Improve the early years foundation stage profile”
  • Make key stage 1 tests and assessments non-statutory from 2023 and remove the requirement for schools to submit teacher assessment data to the government for reading and maths at the end of key stage 2;
  • Introduce a times table tables check from 2019-20.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said:

“A good primary education lays the foundations for success at secondary school and beyond. This year’s key stage 2 results showed our curriculum reforms are starting to raise standards and it is vital we have an assessment system that supports that.

These changes will free up teachers to educate and inspire young children while holding schools to account in a proportionate and effective way.”