Guidance

Reception baseline assessment validity report

Information on the validity evidence gathered during the development of the reception baseline assessment (RBA).

Documents

Reception baseline assessment validity report

Details

Following a successful pilot, the RBA became statutory from September 2021. Any reference to the RBA becoming statutory from 2020 in this document is now inaccurate.

The RBA will provide the basis for a new way of measuring the progress primary schools make with their pupils. Unlike the current progress measure, this will give schools credit for the important work they do with their pupils between reception and year 2.

The validity report provides the evidence gathered throughout every stage of development and helps those with an interest in assessment to understand the validity argument that supports the RBA.

Further information

The RBA information leaflet provides further information for schools about the new assessment.

Published 26 February 2020
Last updated 16 May 2022 + show all updates
  1. Edited GOV.UK page to remove reference to 'new' assessment. 

  2. Updated for the introduction of the 2021 reception baseline assessment.

  3. Updated to note any reference to the reception baseline assessment becoming statutory from 2020 in these documents is now inaccurate. Statutory introduction of the reception baseline assessment has been postponed to autumn 2021.

  4. First published.