REPORTING TO PARENTS – UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2010

At Clevedon School, we are currently reviewing our Assessment and Reporting processes and bringing them into line with the new National Standards. This update is mainly about some changes to our end of year reporting of student progress and achievement. It is accompanied by the latest NZ Curriculum support pamphlet about the standards in Reading, Writing and Mathematics for each year level, produced by the Ministry of Education.

Recap ~ The new requirements are ~ where a school has students enrolled in years 1-8, the Principal and teaching staff, along with the Board of Trustees, is required to use the National Standards to:

·       “Report to students and their parents on the student’s progress and achievement in relation to National Standards. Reporting to parents in plain language in writing must be at least twice a year.”

While there is no specific requirement for the format of these reports, we already have good practices already in place that you will be aware of ~

·         A Drop in session early in the year where student learning goals and next steps are shared.

·         An interim report ~ Our Mid Year Student-led Conferences ~ showing the student’s progress towards the learning goals which were made at the beginning of the year and identifying Next Steps.

·         An End-of-Year Report which is the culmination of a year of goal setting, planning, reviewing and reflection on the part of the student and the teacher.  This is a statement that sums up the year, celebrates what has been learned and sets the framework for the next year.

Changes ~ To implement the new Ministry requirements we have now made a change to the timing of reports for the first three years students are at school. We now need to report on these students’ progress and achievement on or around the anniversary of the student’s school entry, ie as they turn 6, as they turn 7 and as they turn 8. We will be doing this at or near the end of the term those anniversaries occur.

            This summary from the MOE website sums it up ~

“The standards for Years 1-3 are for the anniversary of the student’s school entry (for example after one year at school). This means that for Years 1-3, teachers will make their overall teacher judgements (OTJs) about students’ achievement in relation to the standards at different times throughout the year. Because of this some schools may choose to stagger written reports for students in Years 1-3 throughout the school year based on when the student entered school, so that they will align with the timing of the OTJs.”

The reality of this is that some students, depending on their birthday, will already have had 2 written reports in plain language by the end of the school year, eg March and September, and so will not be getting a final End of Year Report until Year 4, when the requirement changes.

“The standards for Years 4-8 are for the end of the school academic year (for example, by the end of Year 4). This means teachers will make their OTJ at the end of the year.”

We trust that this information is helpful, and that the supporting pamphlets will also assist you in supporting your child’s learning. You are always welcome to contact the your child’s teacher or the management team for further information. 

        Websites:    
                                 http://www.clevedonschool.co.nz/WebSpace/101/

                    
                             http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents.