Assessment at Brookhaven is used to understand each pupil's starting point and guide their progress over time — from initial consultation through to ongoing review across every area of the curriculum.
Assessment Overview
Assessment begins during consultation and continues throughout the first half term at Brookhaven as part of the baseline assessment period. This allows staff to build a clear understanding of each student's strengths, needs and starting points.
Baseline assessment is organised across two main areas: the Brookhaven Steps curriculum and academic assessment in maths and English.
Following the baseline period, assessment is extended across the wider curriculum. Ongoing assessment continues within maths, English and the Brookhaven Steps curriculum, while teachers also assess progress within each individual subject area.
Students are assessed against the Brookhaven Steps Framework to identify their current step and development within that step.
Students are assessed against the Brookhaven Steps Framework to identify their current step and their development within that step. The individual skills within each step are assessed along a clear progression scale.
Foundation
Early skills and emerging independence, with focused personal support.
Development
Growing confidence and application of skills across different contexts.
Achievement
Consolidating and extending skills towards greater independence.
Progression Within Each Step
Skills within each step are assessed from Emerging through to Secure and Exceeding, giving a detailed picture of each learner's journey.
Planning, Evidence & Review
Form teachers use assessment information alongside each student's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to identify priority targets and plan personalised support. Evidence of progress is gathered across lessons through:
- Photographs and videos
- Written observations
- Records captured using Evidence for Learning
Targets are reviewed every half term to ensure students continue to make meaningful progress.
Alongside the Brookhaven Steps framework, students complete formal assessments in core subjects and teachers draw on a range of additional tools to track academic progress.
End-of-Unit Assessments
Students complete end-of-unit assessments in core subjects including Mathematics, English, Science and Computing. These assessments measure progress against each subject's yearly plan and the expectations of the student's pathway.
Additional Assessment Tools
Teachers use a range of supplementary tools to support the tracking of academic progress and inform future teaching planning.
Assessment at Brookhaven is always purposeful — rooted in understanding each learner as an individual and ensuring that every piece of evidence gathered drives meaningful progress, personalised support and ambitious outcomes.