The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your children's early literacy,  communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin school,  using materials that most children of your child's age will be familiar with. It has been statutory for all schools since September 2021.

The RBA will provide an opportunity for your child to have valuable one-to-one tome with their teacher at an early stage, so that the teacher can get to know your child better. It will provide a helpful snapshot of your child so that they can be supported in the most appropriate way.

You do not need to do anything to prepare your child for the assessment. Your child is unlikely to even know that they are doing an assessment when they are completing tasks and activities.

For more information the full booklet for parents is below.

Phonics Screening Check

Children in Year 1 throughout the country will all be taking part in a phonics screening check during the same month of June. Children in Year 2 will also take the check if they did not achieve the required result when in Year 1 or they have not taken the test before. The video below explains more about the check.

The following guide has been produced by the Department for Education to explain more about the Phonics Screening Check. 

The Year 4 Multiplication Check

Children in Year 4 will be participating in the multiplication tables check in June. The purpose of the check is to determine whether your child can fluently recall their times tables up to 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will also help your child’s school to identify if your child may need additional support.

It is an on-screen check consisting of 25 times table questions. Your child will be able to answer 3 practice questions before taking the actual check. They will then have 6 seconds to answer each question. On average, the check should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

Key Stage Two National Curriculum Assessments (Year 6 SATs):

If you have a child in year 6, at the end of key stage 2, they will take national curriculum tests in English grammar, punctuation and spelling, English reading and mathematics.

The tests help measure the progress pupils have made and identify if they need additional support in a certain area. The tests are also used to assess schools’ performance and to produce national performance data.

The key stage 2 tests will be taken on set dates unless your child is absent, in which case they may be able to take them up to 5 school days afterwards.

At the end of the summer term you should receive test results for:

  • English grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • English reading
  • mathematics