SEN expert to head review of low attaining pupils’ assessment
Schools Minister Nick Gibb has announced that the review will focus on the more than 500,000 pupils whose ability is below the national curriculum standards in the Key Stage 1 and 2 tests. Children with lower abilities are currently assessed using ‘P levels’ – a framework for statutory reporting the ability levels of children with special educational needs.
Rochford will work with a group of experts with backgrounds in assessment and working with SEND and disadvantaged children. They will consult widely with heads and teachers to find a solution for a comprehensive statutory assessment for these pupils.
John F. Kennedy School is a four to 19 special needs school within the Learning and Harmony Multi Academy Trust. Rochford has previously worked within local authority provision and has extensive experience of a range of learners with SEN in profound and medical learning difficulty (PMLD), autistic spectrum condition (ASC) and severe learning difficulty (SLD) within complex needs.
Rochford said: “This review provides a welcome opportunity to ensure pupils of all abilities are included in new arrangements for statutory assessment and benefit from assessment without levels. Parents of pupils who, for a wide range of reasons, make attainment and progress at a slower rate, including those with special educational needs, deserve to have accurate information about how their children are doing at school.”
Gibbs commented: “Parents of pupils of all abilities have the right to know how their children are progressing at school. My concern is that too many pupils have been at risk of falling into a gap created by a lack of comprehensive assessment for pupils with lower levels of attainment.
“This review will help establish accurate information which they can use to hold their school to account. Crucially, it will also give credit to hard-working teachers who rightly have high expectations for all their pupils. I am extremely pleased the review will be led by Diane Rochford who is a well-respected expert in this field.”
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