SATs predictions in Yr 1?

[katepol]

I understand schools make these based on progress made adjusted for age etc. Anyone know what it is called, and whether the predictions are given to parents or just used in school?

Are they useful or just more stats for stats sake?

Education authorities use a tool called Raise online, which they make available to the school. They take the scores a child achieves on entering Foundation stage (Reception), plus the scores they achieve at the end of Foundation. These scores are used, along with other information, like whether a child moves schools, has school meals, etc, to make predictions for their SAT scores in Year 6.

This information is not made available to schools, but does end up being fairly acurate. It is used by schools to ensure that the children stay on track for achieving these levels - if they do, then the school may be judged as satisfactory in achievement. If the children exceed these predictions, the school may be judged as good or outstanding in achievement. So, for schools, a lot depends on how the children achieve when they first come in to school, because everything is judged against that.
Hope this helps - I have bored myself, now!

Sorry, meant to say 'This information is not made available to PARENTS', not schools. Too tired! And accurate, not acurate. Durr-urrr.

Do you know why these scores aren't available to parents? My DD is entering Reception and I had no idea that they had all been scored, I was under the impression that the Reception teacher would take a few weeks to look at each child and group them accordingly.

I can just imagine the reaction if they did give these scores to parents at end of reception year.
the comparisons, panics and competition and blame flying around.
This is surely best kept secret

Yes I can see that possibly this would be the case but what I don't understand is why some people are given scores and others not. There have been some threads on this and I find it confusing. Additionally some pre-schools seems to start 'teaching' things like phonics etc and others don't. I have also heard of children that are purposely held back at preschool i.e. not developed as they could be so that they enter reception not too far ahead. As a parent I not only want to see the progress my child makes but also to know that the school acknowledges it.

Does anyone know how you go about getting these scores?

Which scores, the predicted levels, or the Foundation Stage scores?
The predicted levels (Raise online) are for schools and Ofsted to check progress.
Foundation Stage profile scores are made available to parents in some schools but there is no legal requirement to report them to parents. Can't see why a teacher wouldn't tell you if you asked, though, if the head agreed.

Ta Feenie
I am not sure if it is RAISE that I am wondering about. It is just that a friend in a different LEA has been told what her dc is predicted to get in Yr 2 KS1 SATs, based on progress in Yr 1.
Maybe it is just something her school does, it is not widespread?
My dc did not get any kind of score at the end of the Foundation Stage, just whether they had dot the Earlt Learning Goal or were still on the Stepping Stones.
Mind you - see my thread on when we get the reports - my dc's school isn't very keen on sharing info .

ANMHE - you can always get info held on your children under the Data Protection Act if you really want...

katepol yes the data protection act had crossed my mind. I think I am just surprised that they use scores on a child entering reception when I know for a fact that my DDs pre-school don't know all she is capable of and what about the children that don't attend pre-school!

Surely if a child is not achieving what they should be then looking back at the end of year 6 isn't good enough! This should be highlighted much earlier. I must admit, as you can probably tell, I do worry about the fact that (and I might be completely wrong in this so do correct me if you are a teacher etc) schools seem to aim to get children to a certain level each year and that is it i.e they are happy they can tick all the boxes.

Ok - all schools track progress, but there is no requirement to share this information with parents.
A child in Year 1 who is 1b/1a is on target to achieve a 2b (average) in Year 2.
Less than this could mean the child may not achieve a 2b, and could achieve less than average scores in Y2.
More than 1b/1a in Y1 should mean an above average score in Y2 - a 2a/3.
However - children are not the steady little machines these tracking devices assume. Lots of children 'take off' in their learning during Y2, and make much better than expected progress. Some aren't quite mature enough for this kind of formalised learning (many summer born children, for example) and make more progress later on.
I suspect these reasons are why many/most schools choose not to share predictions with parents - most children don't progress neatly across lots of little levelled boxes in their school career. They are also little people, busy with many other things beside curriculum levels!

aintnomountainhighenough - Yes, schools track progress all the way through, not just looking back after Y6.