Nursery World - Uniform system for assessing all pupils

Pre-schools and primary schools across Scotland are set for a standard recording procedure after education minister Jack McConnell last week announced plans to move towards a more uniform system of assessing children's attainment in pre-school and from five to 14. Announcing the Executive's intention to streamline methods of evaluating children's attainment into a single system, Mr McConnell said, 'Effective assess-ment is vital if we are to improve learning and teaching in the classrooms of the future. It promotes learning and helps our children achieve their full potential.

Announcing the Executive's intention to streamline methods of evaluating children's attainment into a single system, Mr McConnell said, 'Effective assess-ment is vital if we are to improve learning and teaching in the classrooms of the future. It promotes learning and helps our children achieve their full potential.

'Information about how a pupil is progressing should be clear, succinct and readily understood by everyone. It is crucial that we not only simplify the system, but also reduce the burden for teachers and ensure that what is produced is more useful for parents.'

Mr McConnell stressed the need for consensus on the way forward and said he would set up an action group to explore the options. 'Improving assessment across the board is more a matter of evolution than revolution - a lot of good assessment tools exist in Scotland, and we will build in that,' he said.

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