Assessment is an important part of your child's schooling.

Why do we assess our students?

• Determine what the student knows and understands about the world
  
• Inform and differentiate teaching and learning
  
• Monitor the effectiveness of the programme
  
• Identify the professional development needs of teachers
• Share gains made with students and their whanau. 

How do we assess our students

Teachers support learners to notice how they are going with their learning – where they are at, where to next, and whether they know how to get there (knowing who and what can help). Learners can use this personalised feedback to help them set goals and explore any misunderstandings. Teachers can also notice whether there are patterns in the class such as common next steps or misunderstandings and can adjust their teaching accordingly.

Much of this noticing is through the observation of learning processes and in conversations between teachers and learners. Every now and then it is appropriate for teachers to use a high impact assessment tool – one that is well researched and reliable – to guide the next teaching and learning.

Teachers use a range and balance of school-based assessment strategies and feedback techniques, including:

• Writing samples
  
• Benchmarks and continuums
• Anecdotal records
  
• Performance tasks
  
• Rubrics or guiding descriptors
  
• Portfolios of work
  
• PAT (Progress and Achievement tests), e-asTTle
  
• Student/teacher/parent conferences

Results from assessment tools are used in conjunction with teacher observations and learning conversations with students, to support teacher judgments. 

Essentially, assessment is of two types, each of which has a specific function:

• Formative assessment is interwoven with daily learning and helps teachers and students find out what the students already know in order to plan the next stage of learning. Formative assessment and learning activities are directly linked; neither can function effectively or purposefully without the other.
• Summative assessment occurs at the end of the teaching and learning process and provides students with opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned. It aims to give teachers and students a clear insight into students’ understanding.