Assessment for learning requires children to have a clear understanding of what they are trying to learn (learning objectives), how they can recognise achievement (learning outcomes), what 'good' looks like (success criteria) and why they are learning this in the first place (i.e. the big picture, sometimes linked to personal curricular targets).

Learning objectives in lessons are important because they help secure progress towards the medium-term and longer-term objectives. They support planning and help focus the teaching on what children need to learn. They help children see the point of individual lessons or sequences of lessons.

Learning outcomes are important because they focus on children's achievement and help teachers design lessons that enable children to do well. As important as clear learning objectives are, it is the clarity of learning outcomes that most helps children make good progress over a sequence of work.

Success criteria are the refinement of the learning outcomes. They provide the detail needed to help children understand how to evaluate the quality of their work and improve it.

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