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Assessment & Progress

At Nexus School we believe that Assessment should be carried out regularly to recognise and celebrate student achievement as well as ensure that teaching addresses the next steps.

Assessments at Nexus can take place in many forms ranging from formative assessments in lessons, to observations of students, to photos and videos and summative assessments through written, verbal testing or practical testing. We believe the key objectives of assessment are:

To actively involve students in their own learning.
To address the need for students to be able to assess themselves and understand how they can improve.
To adjust teaching to take into account the results of assessment.
To recognise the profound influence that assessment has on the motivation and self-esteem of students.
To allow teachers to evaluate and respond to their teaching and students’ learning.
To track student progress and coordinate intervention where appropriate.
To record, recognise and celebrate student achievement

Assessments Implementation

In Nexus School we use B Squared to track academic subjects and guide and support teachers for planning non-academic development. We also use Evidence for Learning (EFL) to measure progress towards your child’s EHCP outcomes.

B squared is our online assessment tool that is used to measure the individual progress of our students, in a range of academic areas. B squared also has a range of frameworks to support teachers planning and guide them towards suitable targets for the target tower and EHCP targets. Each pathway follows a bespoke assessment framework, which is designed to meet the assessment needs of the pupils. The frameworks are split into multiple levels and each level is broken down into many individual learning requirements. The program is designed to show and measure small steps of progress. We can also use the Communication and Interaction framework to inform and develop the Target Towers all of the students use.

Evidence for Learning is our assessment tool to measure the progress of your child’s EHCP outcomes. The targets can be personalised by the teachers to match the targets found on their Target Towers. The teaching team will collect evidence towards achieving their Targets. Photos, videos and notes can be submitted by the teaching team and shared with home as well as allowing you to submit the same back to school, to help us all recognise the progress of your child.

Students following the sense and experience and discover and explore pathway also use the engagement model to support their teaching in school. This methodology allows teachers to measure a student’s engagement in learning. By making adaptions and changes the teacher will find methods of increasing engagement and thus increase the pace of learning. This is all measured through evidence for learning.

Target towers allow us to share and plan our students progress towards their EHCP target. Each child has interim targets set twice a year to help them work towards and achieve their EHCP outcome. These are shared with home and the progress towards the targets will then be collected and measured using Evidence for Learning. The EHCP outcomes are discussed and planned in annual reviews and parent consultations.

Each teacher uses the information gathered from B Squared, EFL and the target towers to plans and deliver the curriculum needs for each child. They will monitor progress and use this to continue to deliver and engage your child in their learning. The timetable can be found on the school website.

Data Expectations The expectations of what you assessments you will see depends on which pathway your child is in. A student following The Bridge Pathway will mostly be using B Squared. As a posed to the child on the Sense and Experience Pathway will mostly be using Evidence for Learning and tracking their progress towards EHCP outcomes.

Assessments Impact

At Nexus school will measure and record your child’s progress throughout the school year. Reporting of child’s progress should happen regularly throughout the year.

Assessment Books will be sent home two times a year, this is a record of the progress they have made in EFL and B Squared.
Learning Journal is a record of a child’s learning and activities over time
Annual Review once per year
Parent consultations 3 times per year

A learning Journal is a booklet created on evidence for learning showcasing your child’s progress at school. It includes samples of their work, photos, teacher observations, and notes about the skills they are developing. The purpose is to give you a clear, meaningful picture of what your child can do, how they learn, and what their next steps are. It helps teachers, students, and parents work together to support learning in a positive, personalised way.

An Assessment Book is a report written by your child’s teacher detailing progress towards your child’s target tower targets. It identifies what your child has been doing and what skills they have developed. It identifies if they have met their target or require some more time to embed the skills. The assessment book is also then used by teachers to help identify next steps and new targets for their next target tower.

Progress of your child will be compared to other similar students within the school, to ensure that each pupil within the school is making the correct amount of progress. Support will be provided for the students not making the required amount of progress through the Pupil Intervention Team (PIT) or individual intervention plans.