During their time at primary school, children take part in a number of statutory assessments set by the Department for Education (DfE).

These assessments take place at different points during a child's primary education and help schools, parents and the DfE understand how children are progressing.

Why do children take statutory assessments?

Statutory assessments help us to:

• understand how well children are progressing in key areas of learning;
• identify children who may need additional support;
• help teachers plan the next steps in children's learning;
• provide parents with information about their child's attainment and progress; and
• provide national information about children's achievement and the performance of schools.

Assessments are only one part of the picture. Our teachers know the children well and use their everyday work, classroom learning and ongoing assessment alongside statutory requirements to understand each child's progress.

Reception – Reception Baseline Assessment

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) takes place during the first six weeks after a child starts Reception.

It is a short, practical assessment completed individually with a familiar adult. It looks at children's early language, communication, literacy and mathematics skills.

The purpose of the assessment is to provide a starting point from which children's progress through primary school can be measured. It is not a pass or fail assessment.

Year 1 – Phonics Screening Check

The Phonics Screening Check takes place in June of Year 1.

Children read a selection of real and made-up words with a familiar adult. This allows teachers to see how well children can use their phonics knowledge to decode unfamiliar words.

The check helps us identify whether children are developing the phonics skills they need to become confident readers and whether any additional support may be helpful.

Children who do not meet the expected standard in Year 1 will usually take the check again in Year 2.

Year 4 – Multiplication Tables Check

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) takes place during June of Year 4.

It is a short, online assessment designed to check children's fluency in recalling multiplication facts up to 12 × 12.

Children answer 25 questions, with 6 seconds to answer each question.

The check helps schools understand how confidently children know their multiplication tables and identify where further teaching or support may be needed.

Year 6 – Key Stage 2 SATs

Children take their Key Stage 2 statutory assessments (SATs) during May of Year 6.

These national assessments cover:

• English reading
• English grammar, punctuation and spelling
• Mathematics

Writing is assessed separately through teacher assessment, based on children's work across the year.

The assessments provide information about children's attainment at the end of primary school and help measure the progress children have made during their time at primary school.

Supporting Children

We want statutory assessments to feel like a normal part of school life rather than something children need to worry about.

Children will be familiar with the types of activities and questions they will encounter, and teachers will make sure they are appropriately prepared and supported.

There is no need for parents to put additional pressure on children at home. Continuing to support regular reading, practising key skills and encouraging a positive attitude towards learning are some of the best ways you can help.

If you have any questions about statutory assessments or would like to know more about how we support children in school, please speak to your child's class teacher.