This
guidance sets out the statutory requirements for the reception baseline assessment (RBA) and reporting arrangements for the 2023/24 academic year. It is produced by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), and is relevant until the end of the 2023/24 academic year. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has been contracted by STA to develop and deliver the RBA and there will be references throughout this document to NFER’s engagement with schools.
Update to Digital RBA
From
September 2025, schools will need two devices to administer the RBA. One device will be used by the practitioner to administer the assessment and the pupil will need to use a separate touchscreen device to respond to some of the questions. The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) had previously announced that this change would take place from September 2024, but this has been delayed by a year to September 2025.
The assessment will remain interactive and retain the use of physical resources for other questions. This change supports accessibility and aligns with developments in classroom practice. Schools should consider how many devices they require, considering their number of reception classes and practitioners. Most schools will already have the required devices and will not need to take any action. However, schools must ensure their devices meet the criteria within this guidance to successfully administer the RBA from the academic year 2025 to 2026