Day-to-day assessment is a natural, integral and essential part of effective learning and teaching. Teachers and children continually reflect on how learning is progressing, see where improvements can be made and identify the next steps to take.

The interrelated strategies that should be part of everyday learning and teaching are:

• sharing and talking about learning objectives, learning outcomes and success criteria with children; clarifying progression
• recognising that learning is often demonstrated through oral and written language and the academic language required to show understanding has to be explicit and part of the sharing of learning objectives and success criteria
• observing and listening to gather intelligence
• questioning and whole-class dialogue to check, probe and develop understanding
• explaining and modelling to clarify progression in key concepts and skills, demonstrate thinking processes and exemplify quality
• giving oral and written feedback to support the evaluation of progress, clarify standards and help identify next steps in learning
• planning for group talk, peer assessment and self-assessment to help children develop as independent learners
• planning specific activities that give teachers an insight into the progress children are making, the standard they have achieved and the obstacles to their progress.

Effective strategies for day-to-day assessment  (PDF 0.05 Mb)

Day-to-day assessment in mathematics: guidance paper

Day-to-day assessment is supported throughout the literacy and mathematics areas of the Primary Framework.

Support for day-to-day assessment in the Primary Framework