Welcome to QFT 7 – Assessment

A vital guide in the Quality First Teaching series, QFT 7 – Assessment provides educators with essential insights into the role of assessment in effective teaching and learning. This booklet explores how formative, summative, and diagnostic assessments shape educational strategies, inform interventions, and drive student progress. Designed for teachers, SENCOs, and school leaders, this resource ensures that assessment is used purposefully to enhance learning outcomes and promote inclusion.

As part of your school membership, you can view the full booklet below. Use these strategies to implement effective assessment practices, monitor student progress, and tailor instruction to meet diverse learning needs.

We had a great time creating all the books in this series, and we hope you find them useful for the future! These booklets also work alongside our new training cards, providing additional support and guidance for educators.

We look forward to hearing your feedback and comments!

What’s Inside the Assessment Booklet?

The Purpose of Assessment

📊 Understand the five key purposes of assessment: diagnosing, informing, evaluating, monitoring, and enabling.
📌 Learn how assessment can be a tool for unlocking potential rather than a restrictive measure.

Assessment and Quality First Teaching (QFT)

🎯 Discover how formative and summative assessments support Quality First Teaching.
🔄 Learn how to use real-time assessment to adjust teaching strategies for maximum impact.

Understanding Different Types of Assessment

✅ Formative Assessment: How ongoing checks support student progress.
📝 Summative Assessment: Evaluating student performance through tests and exams.
🔎 Diagnostic Assessment: Identifying learning gaps and SEN needs.
📈 Monitoring Progress Over Time: Using assessment data to guide long-term learning strategies.

Assessment for SEN Identification and Support

🛠 Explore specialist assessment tools for identifying SEN, including phonics screeners, working memory tests, and reading assessments.
📃 Learn how to write effective SEN support plans based on assessment data.
⚖️ Understand the importance of fair and inclusive assessment practices to prevent over- or under-identification of SEN needs.

The Role of Assessment in Evaluating Interventions

📊 Learn how baseline data, progress monitoring, and intervention fidelity ensure the success of support programs.
📢 Discover case studies that demonstrate assessment-driven interventions in practice.

Assessment for Access Arrangements in Examinations

✍️ Understand how access arrangements (e.g., extra time, scribe support) are granted based on assessment evidence.
📚 Ensure compliance with Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidelines when supporting students with exam accommodations.

Assessment Across Different Educational Phases

👶 Early Years (EYFS): Observational assessment and developmental tracking.
🏫 Primary Schools: SATs preparation and teacher-led assessments.
🎓 Secondary Schools: GCSE readiness, vocational assessment, and progress tracking.
🏢 Further Education (FE): Initial screenings, workplace readiness assessments, and inclusive assessment strategies.

The Future of Assessment

🌐 Explore the role of technology in assessment, including AI-driven learning analytics and online assessments.
🔄 Rethink assessment practices to reduce teacher workload while improving student outcomes.