Assessment and Reporting

At Rosanna Primary School, assessment is an integral and ongoing part of the teaching and learning process. We believe that clear communication regarding a child's progress is essential for a successful partnership between school and home. Our approach focuses on gathering evidence to understand where each student is in their learning journey and identifying the purposeful next steps required to support their growth.

Monitoring Growth

We use a variety of assessment methods to ensure we have a comprehensive understanding of every child's strengths and areas for development. This evidence-informed approach allows our teachers to calibrate their instruction, ensuring that learning is appropriately scaffolded and that every student is supported to feel confident in their progress.

Each week learning teams across the school analyse student data to make informed choices about learning. These chocies inform future planning and determine interventions for students. To do so, we utilise a variety of tools to ensure our teaching is responsive and supportive, allowing us to celebrate individual progress across the primary years.

This evidence allows our staff to work in partnership with you, ensuring your child’s individual journey is met with both warmth and professional expertise.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)

At Rosanna Primary School, we view NAPLAN as one of many navigational markers that help us understand student progress in a national context. Participated in by students in Years 3 and 5, these assessments provide a snapshot of learning across reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy.

Our approach is grounded in the Science of Learning; we ensure that students are familiar with the format of the assessment so they can approach it with a sense of calm and confidence. We believe that a strong sense of wellbeing is fundamental to successful learning, and our staff work purposefully to support students to feel secure and settled throughout the process.

The information gathered from NAPLAN is used pragmatically to:

Refine Our Teaching: It allows us to reflect on our school-wide programs and ensure our evidence-informed practices are meeting the needs of our cohorts.
Celebrate Growth: We focus on the progress students make over time, using the data to supplement our ongoing classroom assessments.
Support Individual Journeys: In partnership with families, we use these insights to identify where additional support or extension may be beneficial.

Reporting to Families

Formal and informal reporting provides families with a clear picture of student achievement and effort throughout the year.

Semester Reports: Provided twice a year, these documents offer a structured overview of student progress against the Victorian Curriculum.
3 Way Conferences: These sessions facilitate open dialogue, allowing families and teachers to discuss wellbeing and learning goals in a supportive environment.

Meet the Teacher: These sessions facilitate an intorducing between the teachers and parents of the students. It allows parents to share private, important information about their children for the classroom teacher to support their learning in the classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions about Assessment

What is formative assessment?

Formative assessment is the "ongoing" check-in that happens every day in our classrooms. It is a collaborative process where teachers use observations, discussions, and short tasks to monitor understanding during a lesson. This allows them to provide immediate, supportive feedback or adjust the pace of teaching to suit the needs of the students in the moment.

What is summative assessment?

Summative assessment usually occurs at the end of a unit of work or a school term. It is designed to provide a "summary" of what a student has learned over a period of time. These assessments help teachers evaluate the effectiveness of the learning program and ensure that students are ready to move on to more complex concepts.

What does "ongoing assessment" mean?

Ongoing assessment is the continuous collection of evidence throughout the school year. Rather than relying on a single high-pressure test, we look at a student's work over time—including their participation in class, their independent tasks, and their reflections—to build a trustworthy and holistic picture of their development.

How do you use assessment to support different learners?

Assessment data is used to differentiate instruction, ensuring that students who require extra guidance receive targeted support, while those ready for a challenge are provided with extension opportunities. This ensures that every child can progress at their own pace in a nurturing environment.

What is the purpose of NAPLAN?

NAPLAN provides a national "point-in-time" snapshot of student progress in essential literacy and numeracy skills. It helps the school and the government understand how students are performing compared to national standards, which informs future planning and resource allocation.

How do you support students who feel nervous?

We focus on maintaining regular classroom routines and provide gentle, supportive guidance to help students feel comfortable with the assessment format. Our goal is to ensure the experience is low-pressure, emphasizing that NAPLAN is just one part of their broader educational journey.

Is NAPLAN the only way you measure progress?

Not at all. NAPLAN is a small part of a much larger mosaic of assessment at Rosanna. We place greater emphasis on our daily "formative" assessments—such as DIBELS, Essential Assessment, and one-on-one interviews—which provide more immediate and frequent insights into your child’s growth.

When do families receive results?

Results are typically shared with families later in the year. We encourage parents and carers to view these results as a general indicator and to discuss any questions with their child’s classroom teacher for a more detailed, holistic perspective.