Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will confirm that an analogue version of the Reception Baseline Assessment will remain an option for parents to exercise for their children.

The reception baseline assessment (RBA) provides a consistent starting point from which to measure pupils’ progress to the end of key stage 2. It is a short, one-off assessment administered one-to-one by a teacher, during which a pupil may use the screen for around 12 minutes. The content is slow-paced and safe, and a pupil will never be alone with the device. It includes questions where the teacher models the first response, and questions where the child provides verbal responses or uses small toy bears.

A paper-based version is available in exceptional circumstances where this is more suitable for the child. The decision to use the paper-based version is made by the school, based on the individual pupil’s needs. Schools determine the most appropriate arrangements for individual pupils while maintaining a consistent approach to the assessment wherever possible.