Although the words assessment and evaluation are often used interchangeably, they each have a specific meaning and a different purpose. Assessment refers only to monitoring learner's progress and is therefore of most use to parents. Evaluation is a broader term which refers to monitoring of curriculum programs, practices and outcomes.

Whilst evaluation is concerned with the whole of the education process, assessment attempts to measure children's performance and achievement. The following diagram provides a useful explanation:

A separate Assessment Policy document is available on request from our office staff. The key features of this policy are as follows:-

• assessment is continuous and is based on a variety of assessment techniques rather than one-off end of semester exams
  
  
• assessment is made on all areas of children's development
  
  
• assessment focuses on skills, processes and attitudes in addition to knowledge
  
  
• teachers collate a student profile which is continually added to throughout the year
  
  
• the information gathered is accessible to parents throughout the year by arrangement with the teacher.

Reporting Program:

The program of reporting achievement consists of the following measures:

TERM ONE -

1. There will be a Parent-Teacher Meeting during the first four weeks of term.
   
   
2. Invitation to meet all parents individually in a formal or informal setting with teacher within first term. It will remain at the teacher's discretion as to how formal or informal this meeting may be.
   
3. Teachers will begin to compile a Student Work Folio that is an informal day to day collection of the child's work samples.
   

TERM TWO -

1. Formal Parent-Teacher discussions will be scheduled for the end of second term. Teachers will use the Student Work Folio and provide written, mid-year Interview Notes for parents.
   
   
2. Parents of children in their second year of formal school will receive a report on the Early Years Diagnostic Net.
   

TERM THREE -

1. The Student Work Folio will be presented to parents at the beginning of the second last week of term 3. This sharing of the student work folio could be done in a number of ways. It could be sent home with children or teachers may hold an open afternoon and invite parents to come in and view the Student Work Folio in the classroom either individually or as a group. Parents could take the Folio home for the week.

TERM FOUR -

1. A formal written report will be sent home with each child on the Monday of the last week of term.
   

In addition to these forms of reporting, a CUMULATIVE STUDENT PROFILE is compiled over the entire period during which children are enrolled at St Martin's. This profile consists of work samples, copies of reports and significant achievements collected each year. When children graduate from St Martin's they will be presented with this profile.