Best Start Kindergarten Assessment

Information for staff

The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment will:

• build upon the strong school entry assessment practice of Kindergarten teachers.

• identify students’ literacy and numeracy skills and understandings at school entry.

Who will be involved? All Kindergarten students in Lismore Diocesan schools.

What is the Assessment for?

• provide information that supports teachers in meeting students’ individual learning needs.

• provide parents and caregivers with feedback on what their child can do, and how they can best support their child’s learning.

The assessment will

When will the Assessment take place?

• During the first week of Term 1(It is assessing what students bring with them to school.)

The assessment processThe Kindergarten Literacy and Numeracy Assessment data is analysed and used to create written feedback to parents and carers.

Providing feedback to parents It is recommended that feedback to parents/carers should be provided within 6-7 weeks after the initial assessment. This interview would also include a range of topics regarding the students’ start to Kindergarten.

Providing feedback to parents The written feedback from the assessment will be discussed during an individual parent/carer meeting.

It is recommended that this does not go home prior to the parent/carer meeting.

How will the data be recorded and analysed?

Software will assist teachers to record and analyse data to• support teaching and learning. • provide feedback and practical advice to

parents and caregivers.

How will teachers be supported?

Kindergarten teachers will participate in professional learning on:

• conducting the assessment.• collecting and analysing the data.• providing feedback to parents and caregivers.• using the data to inform teaching and learning.

How can school leadership teams support the assessment process?

• By maintaining collegial support in a professional learning culture

• By providing resources and assistance to Kindergarten teachers

• By keeping the school community informed

What will be assessed?• School entry skills and understandings in

literacy and numeracy

• Critical aspects in each area, as determined by research

How does it links to the Early Stage 1 English and Mathematics syllabuses?

All aspects to be assessed are critical parts of the English and Mathematics syllabuses

What are the critical aspects of literacy to be assessed?

Reading text Writing

Speaking Comprehension

Concepts about print Phonics

Phonemic Awareness (Vocabulary)

What are the critical aspects of numeracy to be assessed?

• Counting (numeral recognition and forward number word sequences)

• Counting as a problem solving process

• Pattern recognition

How will the Assessment be implemented?

• Kindergarten teachers will observe and record student responses in a one-one session on a nominated day during Week 1 of Term 1.

What are students asked to do during the Best Start Literacy Assessment?

Teachers ask a series of questions togather information about children’s earlyliteracy knowledge.

For example:

To assess a child’s understanding of atext read to them, the teacher may ask the student to retell what happened in the story in their own words.

What are students asked to do during the Best Start Numeracy Assessment?

Teachers ask a series of questions togather information about children’s initial mathematical knowledge.

For example: To see how far a child can correctlycount, the teacher may ask them to start counting.

The child will be asked to stop when the teacher gets a sense of how well they can count.

Will all children be assessed?

• Best Start is inclusive. All children will have the opportunity to participate.

• The Assessment will provide critical information for teaching and learning programs that meet the individual needs of students.

How will student assessment information be communicated to parents and caregivers?

Parents and carers will receive clear, accessible feedback on:• their child’s learning at school entry• next steps in the

learning process• how to support their

child’s learning.

Best Start InformationInformation and Power Point presentations can be found on the CEO Intranet by following the pathway: Education Services/Curriculum/Best Starthttp://intranet.lism.catholic.edu.au/pages/education-services/curriculum/best-start.php