Reception teachers - baselines and adopting new curriculum

[Russell19]

Hi all,

I have been on mat leave this year so will be returning to do the new baseline. I have read the government document however I am still confused what the actual assessment includes. Will it be like a SATs paper where it is not disclosed to us until just before we do it? I have seen we have to do practical tasks and use resources. Will these resources be provided? Any info really would be great.

Also, we have applied to adopt the new curriculum in EY but don't think we have heard back. Does anyone know about this? Do we assume we are taking on the new curriculum? I want to start planning new MTPs etc.

Feel so out of it!

Thank you all x

Good question!
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@blueglassandfreesias Glas it's not just me!

Glad

We piloted the baseline last year and were sent a box of resources and login details for the 'script' and to enter responses. It was quite straightforward to follow.

@southchinasea that sounds good! At least that's one easy thing done. Did you use a tablet to input the scores there and then? How long per child? (i know the guidance says 20mins) Did you have to do it in a room alone?

Yes we had our laptops on the table and clicked on the children's answers as we went along, this then generated different follow up questions and activities, levelled according to how 'well' the child was doing.

There was a literacy section and a maths section. Took about 10 minutes each. We did one section for all our children over a few days and then the 2nd section the following week, as 20 minutes with 1 child felt a bit intense for them, so early in the year! A few children were nervous, most quite enjoyed the attention!

We didn't have any cover so did the baseline in the classroom while our TA supported play with the rest of the class. It would have been nicer to have taken the children out I think, if cover had been possible. Tried to find a quiet corner in the classroom as best we could.

We got a print out of a report for each child but it was quite general. Found we still had to do some of our own assessments on top. So it was all quite time consuming at that very early stage of the school year when you really want to be settling the class.

Nice to have the 1:1 time with each child and did help us to get to know them, up to a point. So pros and cons.

Will be interesting to see if they have changed the format much this year.

Thank you! Was wondering if I'd need to do my own assessments. That's really useful.

Poster on the Tenth Republic thread has just said baseline assessments postponed til Sep 2021 I think?

What?! Can you link the thread please?

Yes I heard that today too.

Me too!

Yes statutory, but you can apply before July 24th to be an ‘early adopter.’ I signed up for this today,