Motivation can be enhanced if children experience a sense of achievement. Therefore, in addition to regular feedback, teachers may like children in their class to undertake some kind of more formal assessment to celebrate how much they have learned.

The Languages Ladder is the national recognition scheme. It enables children and teachers to assess achievement using ‘can do’ statements in the main skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Teacher assessment and external tests associated with the Languages Ladder are currently available through Asset Languages. Asset Languages is an assessment scheme which rewards learners for their achievements in very small steps, one skill at a time. Asset Languages produces materials specifically for the primary school context.

Questions

- What do you feel are the benefits and drawbacks of summative assessment?

- How are parents and carers informed of and involved in the assessment of their children’s learning?

- When might be a suitable time to undertake teacher assessment or external assessment of children’s language learning? Why do you feel this to be the case?