Management Information Sheet

Audience: Headteachers, Teachers of Reception, Y2 and Y6 in all Norfolk schools and Early Years and Childcare Settings in the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors with children in YR, Y2 and Y6.

Although final arrangements for statutory moderation at the three key stages (EYFSP, KS1 and Y6 writing) have not been confirmed by the DfE (being still subject to ministerial agreement) we are anxious to ensure that schools are as fully informed as possible.

Building on the practice which schools have found most beneficial (especially in terms of providing high quality CPD) we are going to take the opportunity this year to provide a consistent approach to moderation across the primary phase. This matches the principles set out by Standards and Testing Agency on behalf of the DfE of bringing the three moderations into line, in particular in terms of achieving the key outcome, namely -

'The purpose of moderation is to use professional dialogue to check teachers' ability to make accurate assessments and apply them consistently'

In order to meet the specific requirements of the DfE, the common elements of the three types of moderation will be:

	At each key stage, 25% of schools will be selected for individual moderation with some additional schools where there are individual circumstances, for example NQTs working in the year group to be assessed.
	The names of schools selected for moderation (including date / time and venue) will be notified to schools by 31st March at latest. Moderation will take the form of an individual conversation at a central venue, with a trained moderator who has passed a rigorous standardisation process. Support will also be available from a highly experienced lead moderator to ensure that standards are applied consistently across the different moderators.
	All teachers with responsibility for making assessments of children at the end of the three keys stages will be required to attend moderation.
	Schools selected for moderation will be notified in the second half of the spring term, by email, and will be required at that point to submit their current assessment data for the cohort of pupils involved.
	There will be a subsequent email (approximately ten days before the moderation date) identifying the individual children selected for moderation by the Local Authority.
	The paperwork brought to moderation should be kept to the minimum that practitioners will require to illustrate, support and recall their knowledge of the child's attainment.
	It is not necessary to collate evidence for the purpose of moderation. The best evidence is from children's every day learning activities across the curriculum which shows independent application of learning. There is no requirement for any additional preparation or annotation as moderation focuses on a professional dialogue with the class teacher.
	Further details will be sent to schools after the LA has received DfE confirmation of the moderation arrangements (in mid-January).

What will be different?

	At EYFS, moderation will not include visits to schools.
	At EYFS 25% of schools will attend an individual moderation meeting. There will be no group moderation in 2013 for the other 75% of schools. However, in 2013 ALL schools with children at the end of EYFS, whether selected for individual moderation or not, must attend a half day session which will include training for accurate completion of the EYFS profile and agreement trialling. These will take place in early March and schools will be informed of booking arrangements in January.
	At all phases, schools will not select the children to be moderated.
	The notice period has been standardised across the key stages.

Time frame for moderation

	KS1 moderation will take place from early spring term until mid-May.
	EYFS moderation will run from mid-May to mid-June.
	Y6 writing moderation will run from late May to mid- June.

As always, you will be regularly updated directly by the DfE under the heading of STA (Standards and Testing Agency), so it would be helpful to you to ensure that these emails are recognised and given priority. We will follow this MI sheet with further specific information as soon as this has been confirmed in January.