This page contains a list of resources, publications, and documents produced by the DfES/QCA. To search all the resources on this site, click here.
For the latest information and list of publications from the DfES, there is a publication called Spectrum that is sent to schools monthly, but is also available from www.teachernet.gov.uk.
Printed publication, web document
This guidance provides practical suggestions on planning, possible teaching activities, lesson objectives and learning outcomes for pupils who make less than expected progress in science. Associated with this guidance are several charts (Accessing the key scientific ideas, Examples of what pupils with special educational needs could do at each P level), for scientific enquiry and each key scientific idea, to exemplify possible learning outcomes and pupils' responses to Key Stage 3 science activities. All these materials seek to support science subject leaders, coordinators and teachers in planning suitably challenging and motivating science experiences for all their pupils.
Purpose: Government guidance, exemplars
Focus: Science, Key Stage 3
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
Part of the DfEs 'New materials for Key Stage 3 - English, Maths and Science - documents to support making judgments about P scales'.
This document should be used alongside the:
It provides examples of how pupils might demonstrate what they know understand and can do linked to contexts that are appropriate for Key Stage 3 pupils.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Key Stage 3, English
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
Examples of what pupils with special educational needs should be able to do at each P level should be used alongside the Framework for teaching mathematics: Years 7, 8 and 9. It provides a supplement of examples similar to those in the Framework, but aimed at P levels 1 to 8 for pupils in Key Stage 3.
The examples are not intended to be covered as a 'scheme of work' or used as a 'textbook'. Their purpose is to illustrate, for each P level, a selection of what pupils should know, understand and be able to do. Over time, teachers should add to and replace the examples with those that they find most useful and cross-reference them to other resources, including computer software, to form a working document.
Purpose: Government guidance, exemplars
Focus: Mathematics, Key Stage 3
Cost: Refer to supplier
Web document
A DfES evaluation to investigate and report on any necessary changes and developments for the P scales, identifying issues in assessment and moderation and the usefulness of national data gathering.
This document can be downloaded from the following link below. Scroll down the teachernet page to get to 'downloads' and the whole document of the executive summary is available.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Assessment, moderation
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
Guidance materials to support the planning, teaching and assessment process for staff working with pupils with learning difficulties. A series of booklets offering general guidance, and addressing the development of Key Skills and subject focused curriculum. Each curriculum area includes Performance descriptors ( P scales) All the curriculum area booklets contain performance descriptors (P-scales).
About these publications – information from the website:
Who are they for? The guidelines are for all those who work with pupils with learning difficulties. The guidelines relate to pupil aged 5 -16 years who are unlikely to achieve above Level 2 of the National Curriculum by the end of Key Stage 4.
What’s it about? It provides support material to schools for planning learning opportunities and activities in each subject for pupils in each key stage. It includes performance descriptions of early learning and attainment in the National Curriculum.
What’s it for? It will be useful in developing an inclusive curriculum. It can be used in mainstream schools, special primary and secondary schools, specialised units and independent schools. It can also support the range of services that work with pupils with learning difficulties.
This publication has been sent to: Head teachers of special schools and LEA SEN advisers.
For more information, contact: QCA Customer Services Team (tel: 020 7509 5556)
For more copies, contact: QCA Publications, PO Box 99, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2SN (tel: 01787 884 444; fax: 01787 312 950)
Should you wish to order from QCA the order reference number is given for each area for your convenience:
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Assessment, key skills, English, mathematics, science, ICT, PSHE and citizenship, geography, history, RE, art, design and technology, music, MFL, PE
Cost: See details above
Printed publication, web document
The Government's Strategy for SEN. This sets out the Government's vision for giving children with special educational needs and disabilities the opportunity to succeed. Building on the proposals in Every Child Matters it sets a new agenda for improvement and action at national and local level.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Assessment, SEN strategy
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
The SEN Code of Practice provides practical advice to Local Education Authorities, maintained schools, early education settings and others in carrying out their statutroy duties to identify, assess and make provision for children's special educational needs. This document also has guidance on pupil involvement in self evaluation, section 3.18 Involving pupils in assessment and decision making.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Assessment
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
In the new SEN strategy the DfES are keen to continue to promote pupil involvement in their own assessment and target setting. This link may have useful information to support staff in the process of pupil self evaluation.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: IEPs, pupil involvement
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication
For the latest information and list of publications from the DfES there is a publication called Spectrum that is sent to schools monthly, but is also available on teachernet website.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: SEN general
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
This document is intended to support schools in the setting of effective targets for pupils with special educational needs. It builds on earlier guidance published as an outcome of the DfES/QCA project in which the National Foundation for Educational Research was commissioned to develop performance criteria, in consultation with a large number of special and mainstream schools, for attainment below National Curriculum Level 3 in English and mathematics.
The document is in two parts:
Part 1 explains the school improvement cycle and factors contributing to the setting of effective targets for pupils with special educational needs;
Part 2 explains the development and potential use of differentiated scales for assessing pupils' achievement below Level 3.
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Target setting, assessment
Cost: Refer to supplier
Booklet and video
These materials consist of a booklet and an accompanying video. They are intended as a training resource to help staff in primary settings where there are children with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties to develop further their mathematical subject knowledge and range of teaching strategies for the daily mathematics lesson.
Although primarily designed for maths coordinators and numeracy consultants to develop teachers mathematical knowledge it refers to the p-scales in mathematics.
Video: 0032/2003
File: 0033/2003
Please contact: Department for Education and Skills, DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire NG15 0DJ. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Fax: 0845 60 333 60. Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Purpose: Support materials, government guidance
Focus: Mathematics
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
A useful document. This document should be used alongside the Curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage, the National Literacy Strategy primary Framework for teaching and the QCA guidance Planning, teaching and assessing the curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties.
It provides examples of what pupils should know, understand and be able to do at P levels 1 to 8. The examples are linked to both the Early Learning Goals and the NLS Reception objectives. The examples are not intended as a ‘scheme of work’, nor are they intended to be used as a ‘textbook’. They reflect the curriculum but should not determine it. Their purpose is to illustrate, for each P level, a selection of what pupils should be able to demonstrate.
Reference - DfES 0517/2002
Copies of this document can be obtained from: DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Fax: 0845 60 333 60. Textphone: 0845 60 555 60. Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Purpose: Government guidance, exemplars
Focus: English
Cost: Refer to supplier
Printed publication, web document
A useful document. This document should be used alongside the Framework for teaching mathematics from Reception to Year 6. It provides a supplement of examples, similar to those in the Framework, but aimed at P levels 1 to 8. The examples are not intended to be covered as a ‘scheme of work’, or used as a ‘textbook’. Their purpose is to illustrate, for each P level, a selection of what pupils should know, understand and be able to do.
The P level descriptions have been organised into the same four strands as the Framework for teaching mathematics from Reception to Year 6. This enables teachers to track between P levels 4–8 and the Reception key objectives. This will provide support to teachers when planning for the inclusion of pupils working below level 1 in the Daily Mathematics Lesson.
Copies of this document, Ref: DfES 0637/2001, can be obtained from: DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Fax: 0845 60 333 60. Textphone: 0845 60 555 60. Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Purpose: Government guidance, exemplars
Focus: Mathematics
Cost: Refer to supplier
DVD, booklet, web document
'Using the P scales' gives advice on using and moderating the P scales from levels P4 - P8 in English, Mathematics and Science. It can be ordered from the QCA orderline. The order number is QCA/05/1589 (ISBN: 1-85838-719-1).
Purpose: Government guidance
Focus: Assessment, moderation
Cost: Schools and local authorities are entitled to 1 free copy.
At the time of the project, the East Midlands Regional Partnership (EM-RP) was known as East Midlands SEN Regional Partnership (EMSEN) and The University of Northampton was known as University College Northampton (UCN). The website has been designed to reflect the name-changes but downloadable project materials still carry EMSEN and UCN logos.
The content of this site mainly reflects the practice within the East Midlands region. Information on the site was accurate at the time of launch, but will remain unmanaged until further notice.
The P Scales are differentiated assessment criteria, devised and regulated by QCA. The content and views expressed in these materials may not reflect the views of QCA. For further information about the P Scales, please visit the QCA website.
Contributions and content for this website do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of the project team.