The NSWPPA advocacy and position paper formed the basis for the Department position on reports that was approved by the National Council.

The parents and carers “A guide to NSW school students returning to face-to-face learning”  advises parents;

• This may be a simplified version of the report you normally receive.
• Schools are encouraged to discuss your child’s progress with you before the written report is issued.’

The Department did not want to provide “Templates” as they did not want to be prescriptive and instead allow schools to manage a reporting framework that worked for their context. After requests for advice they created “SAMPLES” for schools in consultation with the PPA. NOTE: none of the samples are mandatory, they are intended as a guide.

The PPA worked with SENTRAL to develop some templates for the schools.

Our PPA Assessment, Planning and Accountability Reference Group Advice is:

• Take a holistic view of student learning engagement, progress and achievement over the semester. Don’t do a testing regime as students walk in the gate; focus on health, wellbeing, relationships and belonging (“Maslows before Blooms”)
• Consider your own school context, and the context of the families to which the reports are being delivered.
• The inequity of the support being provided for students while Learning at Home.
• Consider co-creating the student reports in consultation with parents (who have had students at home for the majority of the semester).
• Use the reporting to parents process as an opportunity to continue to build upon connections and relations enhanced through the learning at home process.
• Use the flexibility provided, we may not have this opportunity again!

A huge thanks to the Assessment, Planning and Accountability Reference Group, Technology Reference Group, and Comms and Engagement Reference Group for their extensive advocacy and work guiding the Department on this issue.