Connecting Steps Assessment Frameworks for Schools in Wales

Connecting Steps has a range of assessment frameworks designed to fit alongside your school’s curriculum. Our frameworks work with a wide range or ages and abilities. Connecting Steps also has a range of specialist frameworks like Autism Progress.

Our Frameworks are split into 4 areas. Click on an area to find out more about the frameworks within:

• FREE frameworks
• Academic frameworks for students with ALN
• Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) frameworks
• Specialist assessment frameworks for students with ALN

FREE Frameworks

All our FREE frameworks can be activated on the Manage Assessment Frameworks screen in My BSquared.

Developmental Pathways

This structure is based on the curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings. This contains a single level called Nursery, and contains all 5 areas.

Literacy, Numeracy & Digital Competencies

This structure is based on the literacy, numeracy and digital competencies. It contains all the statements from the competencies for Welsh Progression Steps 1 – 3 and the ABC Steps. In Connecting Steps, Pre-Progression Steps 4 – 6 are equivalent to the ABC steps.

Academic Frameworks for Students with ALN

Welsh Progression Steps

Our Welsh Progression Steps Framework covers from the ABC Steps (Pre-Progression Steps up to Progression Step 3. The framework covers all 6 areas of the Curriculum for Wales.

We recognise the small steps of progress pupils with ALN make. We have split each Welsh Progression Step into smaller levels. Pupils working around age related expectations will make progress that can be easily measured, but for pupils with ALN, this won’t be the case. Welsh Progression Step 1 covers 2 years of crucial development. Welsh Progression Step 2 covers 3 years of development. Schools need to be able to demonstrate the small steps of progress pupils with ALN make and for pupils with ALN, these 2 or 3 years of development could take 6 years or longer.

Pre-Progression Steps

Our Pre-Progression Steps framework is for pupils working on the Routes for Learning. The framework is split into 3 levels and cover a wider scope. The 3 Routes to Progression covers the following areas:

• Attention Skills
• Communicating Preference and Choice
• Interaction
• Cognitive
• Routes for Learning map
• Emotional Awareness
• Emotional Regulation
• Movement

Preparing for Adulthood Frameworks

Steps 4 Life

Steps 4 Life is our framework for pupils with ALN who are working towards independent living. It is primarily designed to be used from Key Stage 4 onwards. Some individuals will be working towards independent living and employment while others will be working towards semi-independent living and others will be in supported living.

Steps 4 Life covers a wide range of areas and a wide ability range, it includes 7 levels below Entry level 1 which replace the old Milestones, Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3 and RQF Level 1 and 2.

The Steps 4 Life assessment content is available in 3 packs and covers the following areas:

Specialist Frameworks for Students with ALN

Autism Progress

Autism Progress is based on SCERTS. It is designed to be used alongside your academic assessment to help profile a pupil’s autism. Autism Progress has a set of progressive levels in the following areas of autism:

• Communication
• Flexibility of Thought
• Social Interaction
• Emotional Regulation

Each area goes from level 1 (around birth) to level 17 (early adulthood). A significant benefit of Autism Progress are the strategies that it contains, we have worked with experts to create a list of strategies for each area and each level to help support your students.