Listening to inform learning

Finding out what children already know is incredibly important to extend children’s learning.

This is highlighted in recommendation 4 of EEF’s ​‘Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1’ guidance report. A variety of methods can be used to assess children’s understanding.

Diagnostic assessments within interventions are key to ensuring the support is targeted and effective. When the term diagnostic assessment is used, you might automatically think of multiple choice tests or quizzes.

But they can also take the form of ​‘purposeful, playful practice’.

If you asked a child to answer written questions around number bonds, you would be able to see their final answer – not how they got to it.