Nursery World - Some assessment terms explained

Formative assessment means assessment to inform planning. To plan effectively, formative assessment needs to be based on observations of the children in action, both in self-chosen play and planned activities. This is at the heart of good quality early years provision. Sometimes this is called assessment for learning. Summative assessment provides a summary of the child's learning and development at a point in time. This is assessment of, rather than for, learning. It should also be based on observation, as it is only through observation that practitioners can establish a genuine picture of the child's capabilities.

Summative assessment provides a summary of the child's learning and development at a point in time. This is assessment of, rather than for, learning. It should also be based on observation, as it is only through observation that practitioners can establish a genuine picture of the child's capabilities.

Summative assessment serves a different purpose to formative assessment. In nursery, for example, it will be used for transfer records, or records of achievement and reports to parents. The Foundation Stage Profile is a summative assessment for the end of the Foundation Stage, for use in the school statistics, to pass on to Year 1 and also to inform parents.

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