Early Years, Key Stage 1 & 2 National Curriculum Assessments in 2022

The Standards and Testing Agency [STA] have confirmed that all KS1 and KS2 assessments return in 2022 and that the EYFS baseline assessment is statutory for all schools with eligible children.

The assessments are:

• reception baseline assessment
• phonics screening check
• end of KS1 and KS2 assessments (including tests and teacher assessment)
• year 4 multiplication tables check
• statutory agreement trialling.

There will be no science sampling tests in 2022.

The STA recognise that children have missed large parts of their learning but see the tests as vital in evaluating the impact of coronavirus on this cohort. It seems very unlikely that SATs will be postponed again in 2022 for this reason.

The baseline should be completed in the first six weeks after children enter reception.
The assessment and reporting arrangements set out that headteachers need to keep materials confidential and complete the headteacher declaration form on the Baseline ePortal before the November 1 deadline.

At the end of the academic year in July 2022, the EYFS profile must be completed and passed on to the Year 1 teacher. The early years foundation stage profile handbook gives further information. Section 5 of the handbook covers reporting arrangements.

Information on the autumn screening check for Year 2 pupils using 2017, 18 or 19 materials is now published. The materials can be downloaded from the practise materials site.
Schools are encouraged to administer the check at the beginning of term 2. This leaves the final weeks before Christmas to administer the check to any pupils who were absent. Any child that does not pass takes the test again in June 2022 with Year 1.

Headteachers are responsible for ensuring all check administrators are appropriately trained, support from our specialist advisers will be available shortly via a recorded webinar. The link will be shared when available.

The autumn check is not monitored by local authorities. Some schools will have their screening checks externally monitored in June. Data should be submitted to the DfE through the LA in the usual way.

Primary schools will assess pupils at the end of KS1 and KS2 this coming year and the data will be used to produce the usual suite of accountability measures that will be shared with Ofsted and local authorities or MATs as they usually are. This information will not be published in performance tables which will still reference data from the 2018/19 year. Primary schools will continue to inform parents of their own child’s recent test and assessment results. For the 2021/22 academic year national, regional, and local authority level educational performance data for KS2, will be published including information by pupil characteristic and school or college type.

The Assessment and Reporting Arrangements are published for both KS1 and KS2 and contain answers to most questions you might have. Please ensure your year 2 and 6 teachers have these.

From 25 October schools need to log in to the Primary Assessment Gateway to submit information on holiday dates and place test orders.

KS1 - tests can be administered at any point in May 2022. Test scripts are expected to be handled in the usual way.
From 2023 the KS1 SATs will be optional and there will be no requirement to submit the data, but for 2022 the usual procedures apply.

KS2 – administered 9 to 12 May 2022. Should look pretty much the same as in 2019. 10% of schools will receive a monitoring visit during this period.

Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) - administered any time between 6 June 2022 and 24 June. Guidance will be updated in March 2022 so these dates are not definite yet.

Moderation visits will take place in June.
25% of schools will be moderated across KS1 reading, writing and maths and KS2 writing.
We will be offering KS1 and KS2 writing moderator training and assessment to schools in January.
We will then look to recruit moderators from those that have successfully completed the assessment.
For more information, please contact [email protected]

There might be a greater need to consider a timetable variance if there are high numbers of Covid cases in your school. Guidance on KS1 and KS2 access arrangements and timetable variance has been published.

The engagement model is statutory for use from 2021/22 academic year for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum assessments and not engaged in subject-specific study. Schools can no longer assess pupils against P scales 1 to 4.

If you have questions about assessment, please contact the Assessment team.