Assessment at Orrets Meadow
DRA
The Diagnostic Reading Analysis is an oral reading test designed specifically for less able readers from 7 to 16 years. The test is carefully structured, with an initial listening comprehension passage helping to confirm the starting point for each pupil. The pupil then goes on to read, and answer questions on, three passages – two fiction and one non-fiction – pitched at appropriate levels of difficulty.
Each assessment takes about 15 minutes. No pupil has to take the whole test: the Pupil Record points to the next appropriate reading passage. The Pupil Record also shows at a glance which answers to the comprehension questions, literal and inferential, are scored correctly. The Diagnostic Reading Analysis is fully standardised and assesses reading accuracy, reading age and reading comprehension.
SWST
The Single Word Spelling Test (SWST) comprises a set of nine standardised spelling tests covering everyday vocabulary. Each test contains between 30 and 50 words, presented orally, individually and within a sentence. SWST identifies the gaps in spelling skills, tracks progress over time and provide teachers with information for effective planning of spelling teaching. The test takes about 30 minutes and provides a standardised score which converts into a spelling age.
Salford Reading and Comprehension Test
The Salford Sentence Reading Test is a simple and quick individual test of oral reading based on sentences of carefully graded difficulty. The test takes about 4 minutes per pupil. It gives reading ages up to 11:3, with standardised scores for less able readers extending to age 13 for reading accuracy and age 14 in comprehension.
Three parallel forms enable the monitoring of spelling progress and the additional sentences sharpen the assessment focus at both ends of the age/ability spectrum. Comprehension questions allow teachers to assess understanding as well as reading accuracy.
OM Key Word Reading and Spelling
Orrets Meadow key word reading and spelling scores are based on a set of 300 high frequency words. Children are taught sight reading for automatic recall. When the children can read and spell Orrets Meadow 300 key words children focus on the common exception words for Year 2, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6. Children frequently learn to read more quickly than spell.
OM Phonic checklist – Spelling
This test mirrors the OM phonic teaching approach which aims to secure a solid phonetic understanding of phonemes which support spelling. The test reflects the OM phonic structure. The test goes up to 100 and once complete the child knows all their initial and medial letter sounds and phonemes (blends, digraphs and trigraphs).
OM Phonic checklist – Reading
This also mirrors the OM phonic programme but with a reading focus. Children are regularly assessed to confirm which reading step they are on and this determines which precision probe will be allocated for school and home. There are 20 steps, children however frequently revisit steps as and when needed.