Dave Elliott

DE/ep 01603 433276

24 January 2002 01603 702110

Dear Headteacher,

By now, you will probably have begun to consider End of Key Stage 3 Assessment Arrangements for 2002. Schools have been asked by QCA to confirm the number of test papers they require and order any extension or modified papers. There will, no doubt, be some students you are concerned about and who will need some kind of special arrangement made for the assessments. The purpose of this letter is to bring the requirements for any special arrangements to your attention.

You will have seen from the Key Stage 3 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements Booklet for 2002 that, as in 2001, schools need to seek approval for some of the special arrangements for children with special educational needs.

As last year, some of these special arrangements can be applied at the headteacher’s discretion; others will require permission from Norfolk Local Education Authority. The details of the arrangements which require permission are set out on pages 29-40 of the 2002 Booklet. The key points to note are:

• permission for early opening of test papers must be requested for all pupils

regardless of their stage on the SEN Code of Practice

• permission for allowing additional time must be requested for any pupil assessed at stage 3 or below (School Action or School Action Plus) of the SEN Code of Practice, unless modified large print or braille papers are being used (in which case 100% extra time may be given for the written tests without requesting permission).

1^st March 2002 deadline for schools’ written applications to the LEA

17^th April 2002 deadline for LEA to process schools’ applications received by 9th February and to notify schools

• additional time of up to 25 per cent (or up to 100 per cent for pupils using the Braille or modified large print papers) for any pupil assessed at stage 4 or above on the SEN Code of Practice;
• use of readers, communicators, signers or amanuenses;
• photocopying the tests onto coloured paper or use of coloured overlays;
• photocopying the test to alter the size of the text for a pupil with a visual impairment;
• provision of rest breaks or separation of test papers into sections;
• availability of word processors or similar technological aids, other equipment, or mathematical/scientific apparatus in accordance with the guidance provided by QCA.

The standard form to be completed in order to receive approval for special arrangements is included in the Key Stage 3 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements Booklet (pages 53 and 54). This may need to be photocopied.

There are two sample completed forms on pages 55 and 56 of the Assessment and Reporting Arrangements Booklet.

Please note:

• a separate form needs to be completed for each pupil
• schools must state clearly the reason why additional time or early opening is being requested (i.e. how it will help the pupil to do the test to the best of their ability)
• sufficient detail to support the request for each pupil for whom permission is being sought needs to be given on the form

 Key Stage 3 Special Arrangements 2002

• evidence needs to be included for each pupil. This does not need to be new evidence, rather a copy of existing documentation. This could include a copy of a current IEP, a recent educational psychologists report or medical report. Any copies of such documentation is treated in the strictest confidence. A list of required evidence can be found on page 52 of the Assessment and Reporting Arrangements Booklet.
• Recent quantitative detail needs to be included such as reading or spelling ages.

Please return this form to Dave Elliott, Adviser, at the Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL by 1^st March 2002. I enclose a copy of this form for your guidance.

It is very unlikely that you would need to consider disapplying a student from National Curriculum Assessment at Key Stage 3. Students who will be assessed through your Teacher Assessment at below level 3 in maths and science and below level 4 in English do not take the tests. You just need to record your Teacher Assessment levels. No disapplication is necessary.

If circumstances arise where you consider it appropriate for a student who is working at level 3 or above not to take the tests (e.g. a sudden family crisis) and you feel disapplication might be necessary, please see pages 58-63 in the Key Stage 3 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements Booklet for 2002. If you are considering disapplication, please contact Dave Elliott (Adviser) to discuss any individual case - telephone (01603) 433276 or (01603) 701020 (Assessment Help line).

If by any chance, you have a student of Year 9 age who will not be going on to the Key Stage 4 programme of study in September 2002, please contact Dave Elliott to discuss the appropriate course of action.

If you have any queries about the assessment arrangements for the end of Key Stage 3 in 2002, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Elliott

Primary Adviser

Enc.