Are Reception year children 'assessed' this term for reading levels?

[KEGirlOnFire]

I recently had a conversation with DD's teacher who said that she'd been assessing her reading level and that she is a 'Solid Level 8 - Purple Band'. She said that the assessment covers words that she can read, fluency and comprehension and that she had come out as above average.

My question is though, what are the assessments for? Before Easter DD came home with a Level 5 and we read a lot at home so I know she was reading above Level 5 but was quite happy to let the school do what they wanted to ensure that all the aspects for what they needed, were covered, while I continued to let her choose her books at home.

I'm very good friends with a group of the Mums from school but none of them have mentioned that their chidren have been assessed so I haven't mentioned it at all. But I didn't know that children were assessed for levels at the end of the year in Reception. Do they do this in all the schools?

I think it varies, DD1 was started in Y1 on the next book on the reading scheme that she was on before summer, she was then 'assessed' and moved up a couple of bands. We weren't officially told though. They might be assessing your DD because she's doing so well - level 8 is very impressive in reception!

The children are regularly "assessed" and DD normally moved up a couple of bands in Reception and Year 1. I know the teacher normally did a more thorough check after Christmas and Easter and also the new teacher after the Summer break.

I think your DD may have gotten a more thorough 1-to1 check for the benefit of the Y1 teacher.

Level 8 is very good at the end of Reception.

They don't tend to assess them formally in reception in the same way that they do the phonics check in yr1. In our school it just means that they have listened to them read and that they think that they are confident at that level.

Surely all children are assessed regularly by their teachers? That certainly seems to be the case in our school, though the kids don't always realise it.

Maybe something to do with recording their EYFS levels for the end of year reports? I think our school just do it on their general reading in class. Or if DS was assessed he didn't notice!

Thanks all.

Actually noramum what you say rings true because, due to numbers, some of the children were going to have to stay in the reception/y1 class and the rest were going into y1/y2. It's a small school so they have split classes depending know numbers coming in.

So maybe they are doing it by ability and trying to determine how to split the class. Dd is summer born and apparently they don't always split by age so maybe they're assessing them all. I will be sad if they split the class though because even the teacher has said what a lovely group they all are.

All children should be assessed regularly- it should be ongoing. At my school we have to submit levels every term, more often for focus children (such as ones who are slightly below average and need a push).

But regardless of formal assessments, when the teacher reads with a child, he/she should be noticing and responding to any changes and concerns.