Assessing the LNF

Assessing the LNF

Everything Primary School Leaders Need to Know

Welcome

● Chris & Ian introductions

● Turn phones to silent

● Emergency procedures

● Slides available to download

● @Incerts / @ChrisPadden

Timekeeping

13:10 - Welcome

13:15 - The LNF so far

13:45 - The Incerts LNF Tool

14:15 - What’s next for the LNF?

14:30 - Implications of the Donaldson review

14:45 - Q&A

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educators and experts.

From planning to reporting to assessment

The LNF So Far

● Originally developed as a curriculum

planning tool

● Statutory curriculum requirement from

September 2013

● Statutory reporting to parents requirement

from "September 2013"

● Statutory "assessment" requirement from

September 2014

“Schools are now required to assess learners’

literacy and numeracy across the curriculum

using the LNF. At the end of each year, schools

will need to produce a narrative report to

parents/carers on their child’s progress and

next steps based on this assessment.”

Welsh Government, Statutory Assessment Arrangements, October 2014

http://learning.wales.gov.uk/docs/learningwales/publications/141030-statutory-

assessment-arrangements-en.pdf

The New/Revised Curriculum

● For LLC, MD, English, Welsh and Maths

● Launched Oct 2014; statutory Sept 2015

● Completely contains, and extends, the LNF

● Therefore broader than previous curriculum

● Clearly focusses on what should be taught

What is "assessment"?

...is it the same as "measurement"?

“You will not be expected, nor would it be

appropriate, to use the LNF to arrive at a single

statement about whether a learner is working

at/above/below the expected level for their age.

Instead, the LNF should be used to help

describe a learner’s progress, areas of strength

and next steps for development.”

Welsh Government, LNF Information, April 2013

http://learning.wales.gov.uk/docs/learningwales/publications/130415-lnf-

guidance-en.pdf

“The Welsh Government wishes to invite

organisations to submit proposals for

conducting pilot studies which investigate and

test models for how the LNF can be assessed

within schools. The pilot studies will take place

within 'pathfinder' schools and will form the

basis of guidance for all schools on

assessment and reporting against the LNF.”

Welsh Government, LNF Guidance Contract Notice, August 2013

http://learning.wales.gov.uk/docs/learningwales/publications/141030-statutory-

assessment-arrangements-en.pdf

Myth (The Completists' Approach)

You should assess every child against every

LNF statement every year.

Reality (The Pragmatists' Approach)

You should identify a particular area of LNF to

focus on in short, sharp bursts of assessment

that feed into planning and interventions.

The Incerts LNF Toolwww.incerts.org/resources/HowtoRecordontheTeachLNFTab

“It is important to understand that the LNF and

Progression Map are not designed to provide a

checklist of items to be worked through or

marked off; still less do they provide a basis for

awarding an overall mark or level to individual

learners.”

Welsh Government, Numeracy and Mathematics Leaders’ Handbook, Feb 2015

http://learning.wales.gov.uk/resources/browse-all/numeracy-and-mathematics-

leaders-handbook/?lang=en

“Instead, it is most useful to use the LNF and

the Progression Map as tools to support

assessment for learning by informing enquiry

and dialogue in relation to learners’ progress.”

Welsh Government, Numeracy and Mathematics Leaders’ Handbook, Feb 2015

http://learning.wales.gov.uk/resources/browse-all/numeracy-and-mathematics-

leaders-handbook/?lang=en

“Formative assessment is not something that

could or should be regulated, but should be

focused on the learner, their goals and their

developmental steps”

Welsh Government, Teacher Assessment Consultation, January 2015

http://gov.wales/consultations/education/teacher-assessment-strengthening-

arrangements/?lang=en

What does Estyn Say?

“Estyn has no preferred model for the way

schools implement the LNF. Inspectors will

judge the effectiveness of provision and

leadership on their contribution to outcomes

and not on the basis of any preferences for

particular methods.”

Estyn, Literacy and Numeracy in Primary Schools, September 2014

http://www.estyn.gov.uk/download/publication/289953.3/supplementary-

guidance-literacy-and-numeracy-in-primary-schools/

Short Term

What's next for the LNF?

Myth

The LNF will eventually replace the current

outcomes and level descriptors.

Reality

Schools should continue to plan and track

progress with outcomes and levels, but should

use also use the LNF formatively.

“Learners at the end of the Foundation Phase

and Key Stages 2 and 3 are assessed, by their

teachers, against the Foundation Phase

outcomes and National Curriculum (NC) level

descriptions … the requirements set out in this

specification are unlikely to be affected by any

such changes in the short term.”

Welsh Government, External Verification Contract Notice, January 2015

http://v2.tender-

service.co.uk/tender/key_stage_23_cluster_group_external_verification

Realignment of Outcomes & Levels

"From September 2015, Foundation Phase

Outcome 5 will be broadly aligned to National

Curriculum Level 3, rather than Level 2 as

generally expected at present. We will use data

on Level 5 achievement at the end of Key

Stage 2, and Level 6 achievement at the end of

Key Stage 3."

Welsh Government, Ministerial Statement, March 2015

http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2015/revisedareasoflearning/

?lang=en

Outcomes + Levels LNF

Achievement

Outcomes

2014-15

2016-17?

New AoL/PoS

LNF

2015-16Outcomes + Levels

New FPP

“NSP support to schools will continue between

now and the end of the summer term, with NSP

partners working with schools to deliver all

agreed support. From September 2015 support

for the LNF will be delivered by Regional

Education Consortia.”

Welsh Government, Freedom of Information Act response, February 2015

http://gov.wales/docs//decisions/2015/education/150227atisn9225doc1.pdf

Implications of the Donaldson Review

Long Term

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Professor Graham Donaldson, Successful Futures, March 2015

http://gov.wales/docs/dcells/publications/150317-successful-futures-en.pdf

“Achievement Outcomes within each Area of

Learning and Experience will include

embedded literacy, numeracy, digital

competences and wider skills. Progression

Steps will also form the basis of assessment for

learning.”



“Learning should be seen as akin to an

expedition, with stops, detours and spurts.

Progression should be signalled through Steps,

rather than Levels. Progression Steps at

regular intervals will provide a ‘road map’ for

each individual child and young person’s

progress in their learning.”



“The Welsh Government should establish an

arms-length structure for day-to-day leadership

and steering of curriculum and assessment

arrangements.”



Next Steps

● Download the slides

o Available at www.incerts.org/blog on Friday

● Respond to the Donaldson consultation

● Use the "Teach (LNF)" pages - selectively!

● Decide your report layout

● Join the Incerts Network next year

o Details at http://network.incerts.org

Assessing the LNF

Education

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