Isle Of Wight Teachers Raise Concerns Over Reception Baseline Assessment

Reception teachers on the Isle of Wight are among hundreds nationwide raising concerns about the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA), following a new survey by the National Education Union (NEU).

The union surveyed 970 reception teachers across the country, including those working in Island schools, to gather views on the assessment, which measures children’s starting points in English and maths during their first weeks at school. The survey also looked at the recent move to digitise the test.

The results suggest widespread concern among early years teachers. More than 80 per cent of respondents said the assessment does not provide an accurate picture of a child’s abilities, while over 90 per cent felt it was less useful than teacher-led, observation-based assessments commonly used in reception classes.

Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the NEU, said the assessment places unnecessary pressure on children at a critical stage of their education.

Teachers also reported that carrying out the assessment takes up valuable classroom time, with some saying it disrupts the important settling-in period at the start of the school year.

Concerns were also raised about technical problems with the digital version of the test.

One of the key issues highlighted was the impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The survey found that 85 per cent of teachers believe the RBA is inappropriate for SEND pupils — a concern echoed by teachers working in inclusive classroom settings on the Island.

The NEU says early years education should prioritise play-based learning, social development and building relationships, rather than formal testing.

The union is now calling for the Reception Baseline Assessment to be reviewed or removed altogether.