Appendix 4: Online questionnaire for education practitioners
Review of Early Years child assessment tools used in Wales
Markit Training and Consultancy Ltd. has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to carry out research to identify the full range of Early Years
assessment tools currently being used in Wales to assess individual children from birth to the end of the Foundation Phase.
We are interested primarily in those assessment tools which are used on a universal basis with all children in your setting. To help find out this information, we would like you to answer the following questions.
Any comments you provide may be included in the final report but will not be attributed to any individuals or organisations.
Thank you for your cooperation.
1. Name of your school: ………..……….
2. Please select the answer below which best describes your setting:
• A maintained nursery
• An infants school
• A primary school with an attached nursery
• A primary school without an attached nursery
• Other, please specify ………..
3. Please select the answer(s) below which best describes your role:
• Headteacher
• Senior leader
• Assessment coordinator
• Classroom practitioner
• Other; please specify ………..
4. In your setting, is the Foundation Phase Child Development Assessment Profile (CDAP) (Welsh Government, 2011) used for on-entry baseline assessment?
• Yes – in its entirety
• No
• Yes – partially; please explain ……….
5. If you are not using the Foundation Phase CDAP in your setting, which
assessment tool are you currently using for on-entry baseline assessment?
• Materials developed in school.
• An approved local authority assessment tool, i.e. a tool chosen by your local authority.
• An approved commercial assessment tool(s); please specify
………
• Other; please specify ………
6. In your setting, is the Foundation Phase Child Development Assessment Profile (CDAP) (Welsh Government, 2011) used for ongoing assessment?
• Yes – in its entirety
• No
• Yes – partially; please explain ……….
7. If you are not using the Foundation phase CDAP in your setting, which assessment tool are you currently using for ongoing assessment?
• Materials developed in school.
• An approved local authority assessment tool, i.e. a tool chosen by your local authority.
• An approved commercial assessment tool(s).
• Other; please specify ………
8. If more than one assessment tool is used in your setting, please indicate which tool is used at which age?
Age range Tool used
3 to 4-year-olds
4 to 5-year-olds
5 to 6-year-olds
6 to 7-year-olds
9. Does your chosen tool(s) assess the child’s achievement in each of the seven Foundation Phase Areas of Learning?
• Yes
• No (if not, please explain ……..)
10. Who administers the on-entry baseline assessment?
• Class teacher.
• Teaching assistant.
• Higher level teaching assistant.
• Assessment coordinator.
• Other; please specify ………
11. Who administers the ongoing assessment?
• Class teacher.
• Teaching assistant.
• Higher level teaching assistant.
• Assessment coordinator.
• Other; please specify ………
12. For what purpose(s) is this assessment tool(s) being used? Please select any answers which apply.
• To get to know the individual child.
• To identify his/her strengths, interests and developmental needs.
• To form an on-entry baseline assessment.
• To monitor development/progress.
• To compare the particular strengths and needs for the group as a whole.
• To inform children of their achievements and next steps for their learning and development.
• To inform colleagues of children’s achievements and next steps for their learning and development.
• To inform parents/carers of children’s achievements and next steps for their learning and development.
• To inform other practitioners, e.g. health professionals of the developmental needs of individual children.
• To inform transition throughout the Foundation Phase.
• To inform transition between the Foundation Phase and key stage
• Other, please specify ………..
13. How helpful is the assessment tool(s) that you use in helping you to identify a child’s developmental needs at an early stage?
• Very helpful.
• Quite helpful.
• Not helpful.
14. What are the most useful features of the assessment tool(s) that you use?
15. What, if any, are the limitations of the assessment tool(s) that you use?
16. How is the assessment tool being used?
• Child observation during continuous, enhanced and focused provision across a range of contexts and over a period of time.
• One to one session with the child.
• At set times during specifically planned activities.
• Other; please specify ………..
17. How is the developmental assessment information you gather on children in your setting being recorded?
• On paper, e.g. teacher’s field notes and observations.
• On paper using a standardised recording form.
• Computer-based, e.g. an electronic profile.
• Other’ please specify ………..
18. With whom is developmental assessment information you gather on children in your setting being shared?
• Other practitioners in school.
• Parents/carers.
• The local authority.
• Health professionals.
• Other; please specify ………..
19. For what purposes is the developmental assessment information you gather on children being used beyond your setting?
• For local authority strategic planning.
• To make a formal referral to educational services, e.g. Education Psychologist.
• To make a formal referral to health services, e.g. speech and language therapy, developmental paediatrics.
• To identify continuous professional development (CPD) training needs.
• I do not know how the developmental assessment information I gather is used beyond my setting.
• Other; please specify ……….
20. Do other settings and agencies share their child development assessment information with you?
• Yes – always
• Yes – sometimes
• No
21. For the following three questions, please indicate on a scale of 1–5, the extent to which, in your opinion, child development assessment (0 to 7 years) is:
Essential Unnecessary
1 2 3 4 5 ____________________________________________________
22. Helpful Hindering
1 2 3 4 5 ____________________________________________________
23. Diagnostic Labelling
1 2 3 4 5 ____________________________________________________
24. Please indicate on a scale of 1–5, the extent to which, in your opinion, that on-entry baseline assessment should align with the end of Foundation Phase statutory assessment requirements.
Essential Unnecessary
1 2 3 4 5
____________________________________________________
25. Please add any other comments about the use of child development assessment tools that you feel could help improve current practice.
Thank you for completing this e-survey.
Interviewee Organisation represented
Chair of AWFPA All Wales Foundation Phase Advisors
System leader with responsibility for the Foundation Phase Central South Consortium Joint Education Service (CSCJES) Head of Service 0–8; Lifelong Learning Department Wrexham CBC; representing north Wales
Early Years and Foundation Phase Advisor, Pembrokeshire
CBC South West and Mid Wales Education Consortium
System leader with responsibility for the Foundation Phase
Team South East Wales Education Achievement Service
Head of Health Visiting Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board
Head of Public Health Nursing Aneurin Bevan Health Board
Associate Chief of Staff (Nursing) Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Head of Nursing for children and special public community
health nursing Cardiff and Vale Health Board
Practice Development Health Visitor and Senior Nurse Flying
Start (both nominated by LHB lead) Cwm Taf Health Board Flying Start Case Work Manager, Carmarthenshire County
Council (nominated by LHB lead) Hywel Dda Health Board
Head of Public Health and Community Paediatric Nursing Powys Local Health Board
Interviewee Organisation represented
Foundation Phase HMI Estyn
South East Wales/Early Years senior inspector Care and Social Service Inspectorate Wales Director of Learning and Development Care Council of Wales
Development Officer (Early Years) Children in Wales
Director of Training Mudiad Meithrin
Senior Manager (Wales) NCMA Cymru
Foundation Phase Development Officer National Day Nursery Association Chief Executive Officer
Early Years Project Coordinator Childcare Coordinator (Flying Start)
Wales Pre-School Providers Association (WPPA) Chair, Flying Start Manager, Cardiff CBC All Wales Flying Start Managers Network
Flying Start Manager Bridgend CBC
Flying Start Coordinator Newport City Council
Flying Start Coordinator Merthyr Tydfil CBC
Flying Start Coordinator Gwynedd CBC
Flying Start Advisory Teacher Neath Port Talbot CBC
Flying Start Advisory Teacher Ceredigion CBC
Flying Start Advisory Teacher Flintshire CBC
Interviewee Organisation Represented
All Wales Foundation Phase Training and Support Officers Group
Chair
Foundation Phase Training and Support Officer Cardiff Council
Seconded Headteacher, Assessment Branch, DfES Ysgol Crug Glas, Special School, Swansea School Improvement Officer and
Powys County Borough Council Early Years Development Officer
Lead Officer Foundation Phase, Flying Start and Childcare Conwy County Borough Council
Early Years Officer Caerphilly County Borough Council