What are Reception Baseline Assessments?

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) is a statutory assessment from September 2021 onwards. It provides a snapshot of where pupils are when they arrive at school. It will provide a starting point to measure the progress schools make with their pupils between reception and the end of primary school. 

The RBA is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your child’s early literacy, communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin school, using materials that most children of your child’s age will be familiar with.

Who must take the Reception Baseline Assessments?

All children in Reception classes in schools in England must complete the Reception Baseline Assessments. Children take this test within the first six weeks of starting Reception class in school.

How can I help my child prepare?

You do not need to do anything to prepare your child for the assessment. Your child is unlikely to even know that they are doing an assessment when they are completing the tasks as it is done in a very practical way through activities.

Will I receive feedback on my child’s assessments?

Your child’s teacher will receive a set of statements which provide a narrative description of how your child performed in the assessment. The school will provide parents with these once they are published.

What is the Phonics Screening Check?

The Phonics Screening Check is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify students who need extra phonics help. 

The checks consist of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonics rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything – your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonics rules behind them.

The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple word structures of three or four letters, and one with more complex word structures of five or six letters. The teacher administering the check with your child will give them a few practice words to read first – including some non-words – so they understand more about what they have to do. Each of the non-words is presented with a picture of a monster / alien, as if the word were their name (and so your child doesn't think the word is a mistake because it doesn't make sense!).

Who must take the Phonics Screening Check?

All children in Year 1 in schools in England must take the Phonics Screening Check during June of Year 1.

How can I help my child prepare?

Check that your child knows all of the sounds that they have learnt in Reception and Year 1. Read regularly at home with your child, ensuring that they are decoding and blending accurately using these sounds. Record reading in their home/school communication book so that their teacher knows that they are reading regularly. If you need any further support, please speak to you child's class teacher.

What are Year 2 SATS?

Year 2 SATS are standardised assessment tests that children take during May of Year 2. The aim is to assess their learning from Year 1 and 2 and identify whether or not they are working at the expected standard for their age group. 

Children in Year 2 take SATS tests in English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling, English Reading and Mathematics. English writing is not tested, and is instead assessed by teachers against a set of framework called 'the teacher assessment framework'.

Who must take the Year 2 SATS?

All children in Year 2 in schools in England must take the Year 2 SATS during May of Year 2.

How do I know if my child is doing well?

In order to reach the expected standard in each subject, children must achieve a scaled score of 100. Children who achieve a scaled score of 110 and over are considered to be working at greater depth within the expected standard. Children who do not reach the scaled score of 100 are considered to be working towards the expected standard.

How can I help my child prepare?

• Ensure that your child is in school every day and on time in order to make the most of their learning time.
• Discuss what your child has learnt each day with them, addressing any areas of confusion. 
• Read daily with your child and record this in their home communication book.
• The school sells revision books for a discounted rate at parents' evenings, which can be used to support your child's learning. You are also welcome to source your own revision books, which are aimed at Year 2 or KS1 SATS.
• Help your child to relax; do not place too much pressure on them! 

What is the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check?

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check is a new type of standardised test which becomes compulsory from this year (2019-2020). The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether Year 4 pupils can fluently recall their multiplication tables. The MTC will be delivered as an online, on-screen digital assessment. Under standard administration, the check will take each pupil less than 5 minutes to complete. It will be automatically scored

Who must take the Year 4 MTC?

All children in Year 4 in schools in England must take the Year 4 MTC during May of Year 4. These tests are administered in June during a three week window.

How can I help my child prepare?

• Ensure that your child is in school every day and on time in order to make the most of their learning time.
• Ensure that your child recites their times tables regularly.
• Test your child on multiplication facts (i.e. 6 x 7 = ?). It is not enough for them to be able to count in 6's: they must be able to recall any fact up to 12 x 12 at random when asked. 

What are Year 6 SATS?

Year 6 SATS are standardised assessment tests that children take during May of Year 6. The aim is to assess their learning from Years 3-6 (KS2) and identify whether or not they are working at the expected standard for their age group. 

Children in Year 6 take SATS tests in English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling, English Reading and Mathematics (Arithmetic and Reasoning). English writing is not tested, and is instead assessed by teachers against a set of framework called 'the teacher assessment framework'.

Who must take the Year 6 SATS?

All children in Year 6 in schools in England must take the Year 2 SATS during May of Year 6. These tests are administered nationally at the same time in every school. 

How do I know if my child is doing well?

In order to reach the expected standard in each subject, children must achieve a scaled score of 100. Children who achieve a scaled score of 110 and over are considered to be working at greater depth within the expected standard. Children who do not reach the scaled score of 100 are considered to be working towards the expected standard.

How can I help my child prepare?

• Ensure that your child is in school every day and on time in order to make the most of their learning time.
• Discuss what your child has learnt each day with them, addressing any areas of confusion. 
• Read daily with your child and record this in their home communication book.
• The school sells revision books for a discounted rate at parents' evenings, which can be used to support your child's learning. You are also welcome to source your own revision books, which are aimed at Year 6 or KS2 SATS.
• Ensure that your child completes all of the home learning that is set for them by their teachers and undertakes additional revision in their own time.
• Ensure that your child attends all booster classes that they are invited to attend.
• Help your child to relax; do not place too much pressure on them!