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The EYFS Profile or EYFSP is a statutory assessment of children’s development at the end of the academic year in which children turn 5 (usually Reception).
Each child’s level of development is assessed against 17 early learning goals (ELGs) in seven areas of learning in the EYFS and wether or not the child has achieved the expected level of development.
The profile provides a summative assessment of each child’s development at the end of the EYFS and supports children’s successful transitions to year 1.
Key Dates
During the Summer Term 2026 - Complete the EYFS Profile for each child.
30th June 2026 - Submit the EYFSP data to your LA.
DfE Documentation
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The Phonics screening check is designed to confirm whether pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. The assessment consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words that pupils read aloud to the check administrator, who is often their teacher or a member of the KS1 staff.
The check is carried out for all pupils who have reached the age of 6 by the end of the academic year.
Most pupils who have not met the expected standard in Year 1 will resit the check in Year 2 but some pupils are exempt from the phonics screening check.
Key Dates
8th June 2026 - 12th June 2026 - Carry out the Phonics Screening Check.
22nd June 2026 - threshold pass mark released.
17th July 2026 - Deadline to submit data to the local authority.
DfE Documentation
2026 Phonics Screening Check Assessment and Reporting Arrangements
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Since the 2023-2024 academic year, end of key stage 1 assessments - known commonly as KS1 SATS - have been optional. However, teachers may still use these assessments to inform their own judgements, if required.
Key Dates
May 2026 - recommended KS1 optional SATs test administration window.
1st May 2026 - raw score to scaled score conversion tables released.
DfE Documentation
2026 Optional Key Stage 1 Tests Guidance
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The MTC is a statutory test for all year 4 pupils. Its purpose is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently up to 12 x 12. The test is administered using a laptop, PC, tablet or similar technology and contains 25 questions, with pupils getting 6 seconds to answer each calculation
Kkey Dates
1st June - 12th June 2026 - rest administration window
DfE Documentaton
Multiplication Tables Check Administration Guidance, which is due to be published in April 2025.
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National curriculum assessments for key stage 2 are administered to pupils towards the end of Year 6 and assess their attainment against the end of key stage 2 requirements for English and Maths. These are broken down into six separate tests, including two papers on English grammar, punctuation and spelling, one paper on English reading and three papers on Maths.
Key Dates
11th May - 14th May 2026 - Test administration period (SATs week)
26th June 2026 - Deadline for submission of KS2 teacher assessment data.
7th July 2026 - KS2 test results available on the NCA Portal. Raw score to scaled score conversion tables are also released.
DfE Documentation
Key stage 2 tests: test administration guidance
2025 Key stage 2: assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA)
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Teacher Assessment is based on a broad range of evidence from across the curriculum and knowledge of how a pupil has performed over time and in a variety of contexts. It is carried out as part of teaching and learning. Teachers must consider the pupil’s written, practical and oral classwork.
Teachers must make their TA judgements using the:
KS2 TA frameworks in English writing and science – for pupils who have completed the relevant KS2 programmes of study and are working at the standard of national curriculum assessments
Pre-key stage 2 standards in English reading, English writing and mathematics where pupils are working below the standard of the national curriculum assessments and are engaged in subject-specific study, or who have not completed the relevant programmes of study
engagement model – for pupils who are working below the standard of the national curriculum assessments and are not yet engaged in subject-specific study
Key Dates
26th June 2026 - Deadline for submission of TA data via Pearson’s Test Operations Service
Dfe Documentation