Using the P Scales

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Using the P Scales

• launch conferences 2009
• Richard Byers
• University of Cambridge
• Faculty of Education

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P scales background

• P Scales differentiated performance criteria.
  Provide descriptions outlining learning and
  attainment leading to National Curriculum Level
  1.
• For use with pupils of school age with a range of
  special educational needs.

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P scales background

• Originally to support school target setting in
  English, maths, PSD where pupils have SEN data
  gathering voluntary (DfEE, 1998).
• Revised and extended to all N.C. subject areas
  with guidance to support assessment, recording,
  reporting (QCA/DfEE, 2001).

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P scales background

• Performance descriptions intended for use in the
  same way as the level descriptions of the
  National Curriculum.
• Teachers should make rounded judgements about
  their pupils attainment to apply a best fit
  judgement.

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P scales background

• Relaunched as target setting tool (DfEE/QCA,
  2001).
• Revised and relaunched with guidance on Using
  the P Scales at P4 to P8 only (QCA, 2005).
• Now incorporated into National Curriculum and
  schools must provide data.

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P scales background

• Planning, Teaching and Assessing the Curriculum
  for Pupils with Learning Difficulties updated
  for 2009.
• Re-launched with revised (2005) versions of P
  scales (QCA, 2009)

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P scales background

• Using the P Scales also re-launched (QCA,
  2009).
• Guidance booklet updated to reflect latest
  guidance and levels P1 to P3.
• DVD augmented with 12 video case studies for
  pupils working at P1 to P3 and new teacher
  commentaries.

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P scales P4 to P8

• focus on skills, knowledge and understanding
• recognise new gains, consolidated or generalised
  learning
• reveal progress that is clearly related to
  subject

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P scales P4 to P8

• Descriptions at P4 to P8 are different in each
  subject with separate elements for speaking
  and listening, reading and writing in
  English and for using and applying mathematics,
  number and shape, space and measures in
  mathematics.

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P scales P4 to P8

• Arguably, it is possible to describe performance
  in a way that indicates the emergence of
  subject-focused skills, knowledge and
  understanding at these levels between P4 and P8.
  The descriptions provide an example of how this
  can be done.

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P scales P4 to P8

• Additionally, each of the scales in English and
  mathematics has three differentiated descriptions
  within each of Levels 1 and 2 of the National
  Curriculum, termed 1C, 1B, 1A and 2C, 2B and 2A.

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Example P6 in using and applying mathematics

• P6 Pupils sort objects and materials according
  to given criteria. They begin to identify when an
  object is different and does not belong to given
  categories. They sort simple patterns or
  sequences, for example, a pattern of large and
  small cups, or a drumbeat.