APP

=Writing: making a level judgement=

Use these steps to formalise your assessments of pupils' writing into level judgements.

You will need:
 * evidence of the pupil's writing that shows most independence, for example from a range of subjects, outside of direct literacy teaching
 * other evidence about the pupil as a writer, for example notes on plans, the pupil's own reflections, your own recollections of classroom interactions
 * a copy of the assessment guidelines for the level borderline that is your starting point.

__Step 1 Making best fit judgements__ A best fit does not mean that the pupil fulfils every aspect of the criteria for an AF. __Step 2 Work through the AFs__ Look through the work to decide whether it is best described as meeting the criteria for the lower level or higher level within AF5 and AF6 on the guidelines sheet. Then, decide whether what you know about the pupil's writing best fits the criteria above or below the line. Enter a tick in the box that relates most closely to the pupil's writing in AF5 and AF6. Now repeat the process for the following pairs of assessment focuses: For levels 2 and 3 make a judgement for handwriting. || __Step 3 Making an overall level judgement__ For **all other levels**: four out of AFs 1 to 6. Use the judgement you have made in AF7 and AF8 to help confirm your overall judgement. || __Step 4 Refining your judgement__ Enter a tick in the box that relates most closely to the pupil's writing overall. ||
 * Draw on what you know about the pupil's writing to decide whether it best fits the criteria for the lower level or higher level within each AF on the guidelines.
 * Draw on what you know about the pupil's writing to decide whether it best fits the criteria for the lower level or higher level within each AF on the guidelines.
 * If you find you cannot make a judgement in any AF, enter a tick in the box for 'insufficient evidence' (IE). Recording insufficient evidence has implications for planning.
 * If there is some evidence, but not in your judgement enough to warrant highlighting of any of the criteria, tick the below the level (BL) box for the AF.
 * When you are confident which criteria are the best fit, highlight them. ||
 * **Start with AF5, followed by AF6.**
 * **Start with AF5, followed by AF6.**
 * AF3 followed by AF4
 * AF1 and AF2
 * AF7 and AF8.
 * For **level 2**:
 * three of AF6, AF5, AF1 and AF2
 * two of AF7, AF8 and handwriting.
 * two of AF7, AF8 and handwriting.
 * Look across the AFs and decide whether the level is Low, Secure or High:
 * **Low**, if there is highlighting above and below the line or the evidence is thin
 * **Secure**, if across the AFs, the criteria for the level are mostly highlighted
 * **High**, if across the AFs, all criteria for the level are highlighted.
 * **High**, if across the AFs, all criteria for the level are highlighted.

For further information, please see the Standards Site:

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primaryframework/assessment/app/mj/writing