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Assessment approaches in special schools

Get to grips with requirements and best practice for assessment in special schools, including things to consider when setting targets and how to decide which areas to assess.

Last reviewed on 30 September 2025See updates
School types: Special•School phases: All•Ref: 11244
Contents
  1. Understand your statutory assessment requirements
  2. Get a picture of pupils' ability before they join your school
  3. Assess pupils on entry, to get a baseline
  4. Use the baseline to help you set targets
  5. Track how pupils make progress against these targets
  6. Review targets and plan for future learning
  7. Analyse progress at a whole-school level
  8. Set out your approach in an assessment policy

Understand your statutory assessment requirements

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The statutory assessment requirements in the early years for special schools, are the same as for mainstream schools. You're required to set pupils 3 statutory assessments: 

  • Progress check at age 2
  • Reception baseline assessment
  • EYFS profile 

In primary school and beyond

Pupils who are engaged in subject-specific study, working at the standard of the National Curriculum assessments Assess these pupils using the National Curriculum assessments, as you would if they