Assessment at Watergate

Accurate and well-informed assessment is important for:

• Identifying a child’s strengths and areas for development
• Setting appropriately challenging outcomes and objectives
• Planning for learning activities
• Recognising and recording achievements
• Demonstrating the important progress pupils are making against their outcomes and objectives
• Identifying effective teaching and learning strategies and next steps for each child

We strongly believe that progress cannot be meaningfully recorded or measured by trying to fit children into tick boxes or by comparing the progress of one child against another. So, at Watergate, we do things differently when it comes to assessment.

 

We are determined that the assessment of each child’s achievements and progress should have the child right at it’s centre.

Every child at Watergate has their own Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP).

EHCPs set out the child’s longer term priorities for learning and development (Outcomes) and shorter term Steps Towards, which are written in collaboration with families and those working with and supporting the child.

We use these Outcomes and Steps Towards as the focus for individualised teaching and learning as part of our child centred curriculum, with EHCP Outcomes informing a child’s Individual Education Plan Objectives each term.

Together with families, we work out each child’s starting point against their learning Objectives and we assess over time the progress they are making progress from that starting point. This means that we know the progress that each child has made towards their own priority Outcomes and Objectives.

 

By assessing children in this way, we can recognise and celebrate every achievement pupils make and that really is vital for the self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing of pupils and their families.

 

 

 

Want to know more?

For more detailed information about assessment at Watergate, please contact Natalie Carroll via admin@watergate.lewisham.sch.uk