Welsh Progression Steps
We launched our Progression Steps in 2018, in response to the changes to the English curriculum. The new welsh curriculum uses the same name for their levels. We will refer to our assessment frameworks for wales as the
Welsh Progression Steps (WPS) to avoid confusion where we can.
The new Curriculum for Wales is for all students aged 3 to 16 and has been created following the Donaldson report. It introduces new concepts and uses a brand new levelling structure called (Welsh) Progression Steps. The Welsh Progression Steps covers the typical developmental range for students aged 3 to 16 years old. The button below compares the new Welsh Progression Steps with the old P Levels and National Curriculum Levels, the Welsh Foundation Phase, the Routes for Learning (RfL) and the typical development for children in different year groups.
Assessment Designed for ALN
Smaller Steps
We recognise the small steps of progress pupils with ALN make. We have split each Welsh Progression Step into smaller levels. Pupils working around age related expectations will make progress that can be easily measured, but for pupils with ALN, this won't be the case. Welsh Progression Step 1 covers 2 years of crucial development. Welsh Progression Step 2 covers 3 years of development. Schools need to be able to demonstrate the small steps of progress pupils with ALN make and for pupils with ALN, these 2 or 3 years of development could take 6 years or longer.
Broad Areas
Some of the areas like Expressing Ourselves within Languages, Literacy and Communication covers a really wide range of skills. Within this area are all the skills around developing speech and writing. There are lots of key milestones within these areas. We have taken the decision to split some of these broad areas into smaller areas so that schools can identify and demonstrate where pupils are making progress and where they aren't.
Spiky Profiles
The Curriculum for Wales not only recognises pupils progress at different rates, it also recognises that within one subject a pupil might be working across multiple Welsh Progression Steps. Schools need to support development in different areas at different levels, so that the child is supported to develop across all areas, not just the areas that they are struggling with.
Pre-Progression Steps
Our Welsh Progression Steps covers the typical development stages of children aged 3 years and above. In terms of P Levels, this will be pupils working on P7 and above. This will be suitable for the majority of chilren, but there are a large number of children who will be working below this level. We are currently investigating how we should assess progress for pupils working below this level. We are looking at the Routes for Learning, the ABC Steps and our work with schools in England and Scotland. We will begin work on this early in 2021.
E-Portfolios
The new Curriculum for Wales wants all children to have an e-portfolio as a way of demonstrating the progress pupils have made as well as all the experiences they have had. Evisense is an ideal candidate as it links directly to our new assessment frameworks for the 2022 Curriculum for Wales. Wales is the first country in the UK to really push e-portfolios. They are a great way to share with parents what is going on in school.
For more information on Evisense, e-portfolios and the four purposes, visit our Evisense website -
www.evisense.com/wales