Assessment: checking what children have learnt
Assessment is about noticing what children can do and what they know. It is not about lots of data and evidence. Assessment should not take practitioners away from the children for long periods of time.
Effective assessment requires practitioners to understand child development. Practitioners also need to be clear about what they want children to know and be able to do.
Before assessing children, it is a good idea to think about how the assessment will be used. Particularly relevant when considering summative or formative assessment.
Accurate assessment can highlight whether a child has a special educational need and needs extra help. It can also highlight where changes can be made to the effectiveness of practice and provision.
Download the following material which can be used to monitor and improve the quality of your practice and provision: