Assessment for Learning

At our school, assessment for learning is an integral part of our approach to teaching, ensuring every child is supported to reach their full potential. We use a variety of strategies and tools to assess understanding, address misconceptions, and guide next steps in learning.

The Importance of Assessment for Learning

Assessment is essential in shaping effective teaching and learning. It helps:

Identify what students know and where gaps exist.
Guide lesson planning and tailor teaching to meet individual needs.
Provide students with clear next steps, empowering them to take ownership of their learning.
Monitor progress and celebrate successes.
Support collaboration among teachers, ensuring a consistent and targeted approach to improvement.

Daily Classroom Assessment

Assessment happens every day in the classroom through:

Questioning: Teachers use targeted questions to gauge understanding and extend learning.
Verbal Feedback: Immediate, constructive feedback helps children refine their thinking and work.
Peer and Self-Assessment: Children assess their own and each other’s work against success criteria, fostering reflection and independence.
Feedback in Line with Policy: Feedback is structured and consistent, following our school’s feedback policy to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Please see our policy page for more information.
Purple Pen Editing: Children use purple pens to edit and improve their work, encouraging active engagement in their learning.

Regular and Formal Assessments

To monitor progress and inform next steps, we use a variety of formal assessments throughout the year:

Assessment week tests: Administered three times a year (more frequently in Year 6) for reading, writing, grammar, punctuation and spelling and maths.
Phonic Screens: Regular checks ensure children are making progress in their phonics knowledge and skills and ensuring retention.
Reading Fluency: These assessments measure reading ability and fluency to ensure children develop strong literacy skills.
Multiplication Tables Checks: These assessments provide a measure of the children's progress in learning the vital knowledge of the multiplication tables.

All assessments are completed in a normal classroom environment and are simply a check of what the children can remember and do independently. Outcomes are carefully used by teachers to plan for next steps in learning.

At our school, assessment for learning is not just about measuring progress—it’s about helping every child grow, succeed, and feel confident in their abilities.