WANDSWORTH GUIDANCE ON ASSESSMENT TOOLS
TO SUPPORT SENCOS IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF PUPIL NEEDS AND THE MEASURING OF PUPIL PROGRESS
September 2008
Introduction
This document provides information about a range of standardised assessments and other recognised assessment tools that can be useful for diagnosing the barriers to learning for pupils with special educational needs. Many of these assessments can also be used to ‘baseline’ pupils at the beginning of targeted interventions and used at the end of interventions to measure the progress made. In this way, they can help to inform schools about the effectiveness of their special provision for different pupils and contribute to school self-evaluation in the area of special educational needs.
Standardised assessments are one of a range of assessment tools that schools use. Such assessments should be used in conjunction with other forms of more general assessment such as teacher assessments, observations and pupil self-assessments. In this way teachers are more likely to build a more rounded and informative assessment of their pupils’ strengths, areas for development and the distance travelled from starting points, in terms of progress and achievement.
Some of the assessments take time to administer and require specific training. These are more suitable for pupils causing special concern. It is essential that teachers consult with outside specialists such as educational psychologists and speech and language therapists to discuss which assessments should be used and who should administer them.
A summary of information on all the assessments listed is attached.
The appendices in this document include other related information which will support SENCos and schools in the process of assessing and monitoring pupil progress.
Index
Quick guide to assessment tools
Early Years and Foundation Stage Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Cognition and Learning (C&L)
General Development
Literacy
Reading
Spelling
Mathematics......
Behaviour, Emotional and Social Development (BESD)
Communication and Interaction (C&I)
Sensory and/or physical
Appendices...... 37
Appendix 1 - Speech and Language Therapy: Early Years Foundation Stage Screener (Nursery)
Appendix 2 - Speech and Therapy: Early Years Foundation Stage Screener (Reception)
Appendix 3 - Advice and information from Wandsworth Primary and Secondary ASD Outreach Service
Appendix 4 - Possible provisions related to SEN Code of Practice area of need
Appendix 5 - Glossary
Quick guide to assessment tools
Assessment tool / KS1 / KS2 / KS3 / KS4 / PageCognition & Learning / 6
General development / 7
Raven’s Educational / 7
Literacy / 8
MIST / 8
Phonological Assessment Battery (PhAB)
6years – 14years 11months / part / 9
Lucid Rapid Dyslexia Screening Test
Phonological Processing – 4years -15years
Working Memory – 4years -15years
Phonic Decoding Skills – 8years -15years
Visual Verbal integration memory – 4years – 7 years / part / part
part
part / 10
Reading / 11
Neale Analysis of Reading Ability
6years – 13 years / part / 11
Suffolk Reading Scale
6 years -14 years / part / 12
TOWRE single word reading test
6years to 24 years 11months / 13
PM Benchmark Kit
4years – 11 years / 14
Spelling / 15
Single Word Spelling Test
6 years – 14 years / 15
Parallel Spelling Tests
6 years 5 months – 12 years 11 months / Y7 / 16
British Spelling Test Series
5years to adult / 17
Mathematics / 18
Basic Number Screening Test / Y7 / 18
Basic Number Diagnostic Test
5-9 years / part / 19
Progress in Maths (4 -14) / 20
Measuring Success in Maths / 21
Dyscalculia Screener ICT Programme / 22
Behaviour Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) / 23
B/G- STEEM / 24
Adolescent Coping Scale / 25
Emotional Literacy: Assessment and Intervention / 26
CISS Coping in Schools Scale / 27
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire / 28
PASS / 29
Communication & Interaction / 30
The AFASIC Language Checklists (LDA) / 31
Teaching Talking / 32
British Picture Vocabulary Scale / 33
Social Use of Language: Revised Edition / 34
Gilliam Autism Rating Scale – second addition (GARS -2) / 35
Sensory & Physical / 36
Profiles of Hearing impaired / 37
The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (BEERY TM VMI) / 38
Developmental Dyspraxia: Identification and Intervention. (Better Books) / 39
Movement Assessment Battery for Children / 40
Early Years and Foundation Stage Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The main method of assessment for children in the Early Years / Foundation Stage who have, or may have special educational needs (SEN) will be through direct teacher observation of the child’s functioning in the early years environment.
This method has a number of advantages over other, more formal forms of assessment such as tests. The main advantage being that assessment is carried out within the actual context of the early years environment and the Foundation Stage National Curriculum.
Observation of children needs to be broadly based and comprehensive. Teacher’s observations can be enhanced through the use of structured developmental checklists. There are a number of checklists on the market which suit this purpose. A checklist used successfully by many schools in Wandsworth is the ‘Detailed Profile’, from ‘Teaching Talking’ published by GL assessment. The profile sets out normal development in 6 key developmental areas against which children’s progress can be measured (physical skills, self-help and independence, eye-hand co-ordination play and social development, listening and understanding, and expressive skills), and is a useful guide for teacher observations.
An identification screener is currently being piloted by Wandsworth Speech and Language Service for nursery and reception children. These checklists are for all Wandsworth mainstream primary schools to use as a tool for identifying children at risk of speech, language and/or communication difficulties (See appendix 1 &2). This will be extended to children in KS1 & 2 in 2009.
The purposes of assessment at this stage will be:
- To identify which children are in need of help and support
- To profile children’s strengths and weaknesses across the range of developmental areas
- To identify ‘next steps’, provision required and highlight proposed outcomes
- To measure children’s progress over time
- To provide evidence that can be passed on to other professionals if referral is needed
The Foundation stage curriculum should help teachers and other professionals to highlight the children who need additional and different support. Early Years Consultants in Wandsworth are advising Early Years and Foundation settings that if children are achieving:
Only points one to three in the three assessment scales for Personal and Social and Emotional Development;
Only the first three points for the first scale (Language for Communication and Thinking) in Communication and Language and Literacy then consideration should be given as to whether the child has SEN.
The completed Foundation Pupil Profile that all schools should receive for pupils on their roll should support schools auditing need and in identify SEN pupils.
Cognition and Learning (C&L)
General Development
Name of Assessment ToolRaven’s Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales
Authors: John Craven et al
Publishers: Pearson
Published: 1st copy 1979. Updated and re- standardised version 2008
Standardised
Description
The Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scale scales provide a non verbal assessment of general ability. The vocabulary Scales provide scores in the verbal domain.
The Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and the Crichton Vocabulary Scale (CVS) have been designed for use with younger children. The Standard Progressive Matrices – Plus version (SPM Plus) and the Mill Hill Vocabulary Scales (MHV) can be used with older children and young people.
Age Range
CPM/CVS (4 to 11years)
SPM – Plus/ MHV (7 to 18years)
Who can administer
SENCos and teachers
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
Untimed
Individual or group test
Individual and group
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008
CPM/CVS complete kit: £224.61 including vat
SPM+/MHV complete kit : £242.92 including vat
Record forms can be bought separately (packs of 25 ) : £26.44
Available from:
Literacy
Name of Assessment ToolThe Middle Infant Screening Test (MIST) & Forward Together Programme
Author: Sybil Hannavy
Publisher: GL Assessment
Published: January 1994
Description
MIST screening test gives an overall picture of pupils’ performance and their learning strategies in functions, which are related to early reading and writing.
Allows you to identify the lowest achieving 20-25% of children in reading and writing
MIST identifies areas of strength and those areas that need further development. It can be used in conjunction with the ‘Forward Together’ follow-up programme which is an 8-12 week recovery programme
(multisensory) for up to 8 pupils.
Age Range
5-6 years
Who can administer
Literacy Co-ordinators, SENCos in collaboration with teachers
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
Untimed
For use in the 5th/6th term
Individual or group test
Group
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008:
Teacher Guide - £35.00
MIST Booklets ( Pack of 10) - £12.00
Forward Together Activity Book - £12.00
Available from: GL Assessment, The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Rd
London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 3333
Website:
Assessment.co.uk
Assessment Tool
Phonological Assessment Battery
Author: Uta Frith and Rea Reason
Publisher: GL Assessment
Published: 1999
Description
A battery of tests is designed to assess phonological processing.
It is made up of six tests. It is intended to be used with children whose literacy progress is causing concern especially those with phonological awareness difficulties and those with a history of speech problems.
Diagnosis of phonological problems which are symptomatic of dyslexia /specific learning difficulties.
Age Range
6 years - 14years11 months
Who can administer
Intended for use by teachers and other school based professionals such as trained TA’s.
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
30 to 40 minutes
Individual or group test
Individual
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008:
Starter pack costs
Available from: GL Assessment, The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Rd
London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 3333
Website:
Assessment.co.uk
Assessment Tool
Lucid Rapid Dyslexia Screening Test
Author: Dr Chris Singleton
Publisher: Lucid Research Ltd
Published: March 2003
Standardised
Description
This screener consists of computer software that contains 3 tests that are sensitive to the cognitive indicators of dyslexia. These are tests of phonological processing, working memory and visual-verbal integration memory. There is also an additional test, which may be used with older children in order to add additional information. This is the phonic decoding skills test.
Results are available immediately via a simple print-out of results. Each screening component has been individually standardised, validated and calibrated in order to maximise accuracy. This tool can be used as a screener at any stage. It can be used once as a form of early identification in order to ascertain a child potential strengths and or weaknesses in relation to the areas covered by the individual tests within the screener. This will provide a profile of the child in relation to the test results and can indicate the likelihood of dyslexic difficulties impacting on the child’s ability to access the curriculum.Age Range
These vary according to the individual tests.
Phonological Processing (4 - 15 years).
Working Memory (4 - 15 years).
Phonic Decoding Skills (8 - 15 years).
Visual-verbal integration memory (4 - 7 years).
Who can administer
The process needs to be facilitated by a teacher with knowledge of assessment and the uses and purposes of this particular screening test.
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
From 15 minutes.
Individual or group test
Individual. But can be used to screen a number of individuals.
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008
Costs vary according to single or networked use and whether licences are purchased for more than one year.
Stand -alone edition Single User School licence for use on one computer with unlimited assessments for one year £80.00
Network version. For Windows ® based networks
Can be installed in Client-Server or Peer-to-peer network configurations. For SQL Server ® or MSDE. 1-4 workstations for one year £160.00
This screener can be purchased by accessing the Lucid website or by contacting
Reading
Name of Assessment ToolNeale Analysis of Reading Ability – 6 to13years
Author: Marie D Neale AM OBE
Publisher: GL Assessment
Published: 1997
Standardised
Description
A test of oral reading. Based on a series of short narratives.
Summative measures of reading accuracy, comprehension and rate, as well as detailed diagnostic information about pupils’ reading difficulties.
Provides a standard age score and reading age.
To probe pupils’ interest in reading and to diagnose their individual needs. The assessment also allows you to check the effectiveness of teaching by assessing whether specific reading skills have been acquired.
Age Range
6years -13 years
Who can administer
Intended for use by teachers and other school based professionals such as trained TA’s
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
Approx. 20 minutes
No time limits on re-administration
Can be administered at any point in the year.
Includes two alternate standardised tests, enables you to monitor pupil’s performance and retest without risking over-familiarity.
Individual or group test
Individual
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008:
Starter pack costs £85
Available from: GL Assessment, The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Rd
London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 3333
Website:
Name of Assessment Tool
Suffolk Reading Scale: second addition
Author: Fred Hagley
Publisher: GL Assessment
Published: 2006
Standardised
Description
A standardised assessment of reading at a sentence level that enables the monitoring of the progress and ability of individuals and groups.
The assessment comprises of multiple-choice, sentence completion questions.
The Scale includes three levels and has been designed to be relevant and engaging to pupils.
Age Range
6years -14 years and 11months
Who can administer
Intended for use by teachers and other school based professionals such as trained TA’s.
Available in digital and print editions.
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
Need to spend some time to become familiar with assessment
Administration 30 minutes
Can be administered at any point in the year.
Offers parallel forms, which allow you to retest
Individual or group test
Individual or group
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008:
£143 for all three levels including teacher guide pack etc
It is not necessary to buy all materials as level booklets and other supporting materials can be bought separately
Available from: GL Assessment, The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Rd
London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 3333
Website:
Assessment Tool
Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE)
Author: Joseph Targsen, Richard Wagner, Carl Rashotte
Publisher: Harcourt Assessment
Published: 1999
Standardised
Description
The TOWRE consists of two subsets. The Sight Word Efficiency subtest assesses the number of real printed words (sight words) that can be accurately identified within 45 seconds. The Phonemic Decoding Efficiency subtest measures the number of pronounceable printed non-words that can be accurately decoded within 45 seconds. Each subtest has two forms that are equivalent.
This test is very simple and quick to administer and provides standardised scores, age equivalents and percentile ranking.
Can be used to provide entry and exit measures in order to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention at child and group level. This test is particularly useful in this context as it is easy to administer and provides a standardised measure.
Age Range
6years – 24years 11months
Who can administer
Teachers or trained teaching assistants.
Test instructions state that this test can be administered by anyone who has ‘knowledge of standard assessment procedures’
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
5 to 10 minutes
Individual or group test
Individual
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008:
Complete kit 978 0 74912085 6 £151.00Distributed by
Harcourt Assessment, Halley Court, Jordan Hill, Oxford, OX2 8EJWebsite:
Name of Assessment Tool
PM Benchmark Kit - Edition 1
Author: Elsie Nellie & Annette Smith
Publisher: Nelson Thornes
Published: 2000
Description
Provides a comprehensive reading assessment tool that corresponds to ‘Book Bands for guided reading’. Each kit includes 30 accurately levelled texts from an emergent level to reading age 12, prepared reading record and assessment pro forma and teachers guide with instructions on how to administer and analyse the results. The book bands correspond to NC levels and allow detailed identification of a child’s reading strengths and weaknesses. This helps to ascertain which strategies the child is using effectively and which they need to develop.
Age Range
5 Years to 12 years
Who can administer
Teachers with knowledge of the reading process and a willingness to develop knowledge of running records.
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
20- 30 minutes when teacher is familiar with the procedure. This assessment can be administered at any time during the school year.
Individual or group test
Individual
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008: £110 (10% discount if orders placed via web shop)
Available from: Nelson Thornes Ltd., Delta Place, 27 Bath Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 7TH Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 267100
Spelling
Name of Assessment ToolSingle Word Spelling Test
Authors: Lesley Sacre & Jackie Masterson
Publisher: GL Assessment
Published: 2000
Standardised
Description
Series of nine standardised spelling tests. Helps you to establish children’s spelling ability, providing you with a spelling age for each pupil.
Each word is presented to the child in the context of a sentence.
Covers everyday vocabulary including high-frequency, Literacy Hour and Spelling Bank words.
Test gives raw scores, standardised scores, spelling ages, percentile ranks and progress scores.
Measuring children’s progress in spelling over time. Could be used for screening/ identification of children failing to make progress.
Materials are photocopiable
Age Range
6years – 14 years
Who can administer
Teachers, SENCo and identified trained TA’s .
Administration. How long does it take to do? When? How often?
Approximately 30 minutes
Individual or group test
Group or individual
Cost/where it can be purchased
Cost 2008: £75.00
Available from: GL Assessment, The Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Rd
London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 3333
Website:
Assessment.co.uk
Name of Assessment Tool
Parallel Spelling Tests 2nd edition
Author: D Young
Publisher: Hodder Education