PIVATS Milestones and the Pre-Key Stage Standards
PIVATS P Scale Milestones
Our PIVATS P Scale milestones were originally based on the old P Scale descriptors. However, in many instances, they include additional information to exemplify assessment of learning for that particular 'level'. With the P Scales being removed for statutory assessment, the PIVATS team had to re-evaluate the place of the PIVATS P Scale Milestones within the PIVATS assessment tool. It was decided to keep them in as they are still viable for showing progression for in-school assessment.
PIVATS Milestones and the Pre-Key Stage Standards
The pre-key stage standards are provided for the statutory assessment of pupils engaged in subject-specific study who are working below the overall standard of the national curriculum tests and teacher assessment frameworks.
The PIVATS team have produced extensive guidance to the use of PIVATS alongside the Pre Key Stage standards which can be found here:
Pupils engaged in subject-specific study
The pre-key stage standards are provided for the statutory assessment of pupils engaged in subject-specific study who are working below the overall standard of the national curriculum tests and teacher assessment frameworks.
Pupils not engaged in subject-specific study
If a pupil is working below the standard of these pre-key stage standards, their outcome should be reported using the engagement model.
The PIVATS P Scale milestones are still relevant for ongoing formative assessment and for in-school summative assessments.
PIVATS continues to be a viable assessment tool. In response to concerns regarding the statutory requirements of assessing against the pre-key stage standards, the PIVATS team have produced the following guidance. However, attention must be drawn to the following points taken from the Pre-Key stage 2 Teacher Assessment Framework. 2021 Pre-key stage 2 - pupils working below the national curriculum assessment standard
- The pre-key stage standards focus on certain key aspects of English reading, English writing and mathematics for the specific purpose of statutory end of key stage assessment.
- Teachers should be confident that pupils have met the standard(s) preceding the one at which they judge them to be working. However, they are not required to have specific evidence for that A pupil's work which demonstrates a standard is met is sufficient to show that they are working above the preceding standards.
- Each subject framework has six standards of attainment containing 'pupil can' statements upon which teachers will base their judgements. Teachers should follow the specific guidance for each subject.
- The standards are not a formative assessment tool: they should not be used to track progress throughout the key stage or to guide individual programmes of study, classroom practice or methodology. Teachers should assess individual pieces of pupils' work in line with their school's own, more detailed assessment policy and not against these standards.
With the above in mind, we would like to draw attention to the following:
- PIVATS remains a valuable assessment tool for tracking progression in learning. It can be used to assess pupil progress and inform individual next steps.
- The guidance indicates that if pupils are working securely within a milestone—or have achieved it—they are likely to be working at, or capable of achieving, the corresponding pre-key stage standard.
- However, the pre-key stage standards contain exact criteria that may not be explicitly covered by PIVATS indicators. Therefore, it is essential that teachers ensure they have clear evidence showing that pupils have met all the criteria within each standard in order to confirm that the standard has been achieved.
To download a copy of the guidance please click on the link below: