A new approach that will enable primary schools to better
assess pupils with the most complex needs will be rolled
out across the country from 2020.
The statutory assessment will replace P scales 1 to 4 and
will be based on the ‘7 aspects of engagement’, an
assessment approach that focuses on pupils abilities in
specific areas like awareness, curiosity and anticipation.
This assessment approach will – for the first time – enable
every kind of progress made by these pupils to be
identified. This addresses a key issue with P scales, which
focused on linear progress, which is not always how
children with the most complex needs progress. This will
help teachers to best tailor their teaching and provision
to meet the pupils’ specific needs and to allow them to
achieve the best possible outcomes.
School Standards Minister said:
This is a significant milestone in our drive to make sure
every child – even those with the most complex needs –
receives the highest standard of education and care.
We have already introduced education health and care
plans that are tailored to children. This new approach to
assessment will make sure that individual focused
approach is replicated in the classroom.
Around 7,000 pupils in primary schools have such complex
needs that it would be inappropriate to measure their
attainment in school according to the national curriculum
tests.
An in-depth review, led by Diane Rochford, concluded that P
scales did not best serve these pupils and recommended an
assessment approach that instead focuses on engagement.
This was backed by the findings of a
pilot that the DfE ran earlier this year.
An expert group, led by Diane Rochford, will now refine the
approach based on the findings of the pilot, ready for it
to be introduced in all state-funded schools which have
pupils not in subject-specific study from 2020.
Diane Rochford said:
As the executive head of a special school in the Learning
in Harmony Trust, I am passionate that we have high
aspirations for all of our pupils, regardless of their
background.
The new aspects of engagement approach will enable a more
flexible and personalised assessment to take place for
pupils with the most complex needs, allowing all of their
achievements and progress to be recognised. It will also
help teachers to best tailor their teaching and provision
to meet the pupils’ specific need, allowing them to
achieve the best possible outcomes. We will now make sure
that schools and other stakeholders have the support they
need to familiarise themselves with the new assessment
approach.
A detailed guidance and training package will be developed
and provided for stakeholders, including schools, local
authorities, Ofsted and parents. This will equip them with
the skills and confidence to conduct and understand the
assessment in a way that will minimise additional workload
burdens, building upon the best practice of schools who are
doing it well.
The 7 Aspects of Engagement approach was originally
developed through a DfE funded project led by Professor
Barry Carpenter in 2011.
