Comments for P scales discussion forum http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com A place to exchange information about using P scales to track the progress of pupils with special educational needs Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:00:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on What are P Scales by pscalesmatters http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/what-are-p-scales/#comment-10 pscalesmatters Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:50:09 +0000 http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/what-are-p-scales/#comment-10 Hello Mike you are right that P scales were intended as a broad framework -- and were not intended to be rigidly sub divided. They have to apply to many different kinds of children - with different kinds of barriers to learning and accross a wide range of ages -- so it would be impossible to write the definitive list of sub divisions. We might expect very different next steps from different children --- e.g A child of 5 years old with autism who is operating at P3 will be different from a 15 year old with profound physical and sensory difficulties. so P scakles were originally intended to help us see levels of functioning but also for us to relate to individuals - But that has not stopped systems like PIVATS and B squared from describing sub divisions -- THough I must add that wherever sub divisions are used teachers still find that there are inadequacy. I would suggest that rather than write lists of expected progress -- staff look for individulal examples of priogress --- set personal targets thet relate to the needs of individuals --- remembering that these are not always steps up the ladder --- they may be lateral i.e applying existing levels of skill in different contexts or connecting learned skills together. Think of the enormous barriers to learning that are experienced by PLD kids and we should reconise that tiny steps of Progress at P3 may be great achievements. May be your coordinator would like to look at routes for learning -- which has a great deal of detail about progress for PLD kids -- but is also flexible about the paths they take http://accac.org.uk/eng/content.php?cID=3&pID=1309 or look at the assssmnt materials on the cd that is included in flo longhorns new book multi sensory workout Hello Mike
you are right that P scales were intended as a broad framework — and were not intended to be rigidly sub divided.
They have to apply to many different kinds of children - with different kinds of barriers to learning and accross a wide range of ages — so it would be impossible to write the definitive list of sub divisions.
We might expect very different next steps from different children — e.g A child of 5 years old with autism who is operating at P3 will be different from a 15 year old with profound physical and sensory difficulties.

so P scakles were originally intended to help us see levels of functioning but also for us to relate to individuals -
But that has not stopped systems like PIVATS and B squared from describing sub divisions — THough I must add that wherever sub divisions are used teachers still find that there are inadequacy.
I would suggest that rather than write lists of expected progress — staff look for individulal examples of priogress — set personal targets thet relate to the needs of individuals — remembering that these are not always steps up the ladder — they may be lateral i.e applying existing levels of skill in different contexts or connecting learned skills together.

Think of the enormous barriers to learning that are experienced by PLD kids and we should reconise that tiny steps of Progress at P3 may be great achievements.

May be your coordinator would like to look at
routes for learning — which has a great deal of detail about progress for PLD kids — but is also flexible about the paths they take http://accac.org.uk/eng/content.php?cID=3&pID=1309 or look at the assssmnt materials on the cd that is included in flo longhorns new book multi sensory workout

]]> Comment on What are P Scales by Mike Doherty http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/what-are-p-scales/#comment-9 Mike Doherty Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:14:55 +0000 http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/what-are-p-scales/#comment-9 Hi, I am the principal of a small special school in Hong Kong. We have used the P scales for a number of years now and also we submit the PACE results to Durham each year. My problem is I have a new SEN adviser who is talking about breaking the P scales down to smaller steps so that we can track individual student progress and measure the improvement especially at P 3. My understanding was that the p scales helps teachers to get a picture of where the child is and what can be expected. It is then for the teacher to plan the way forward and that assessment will inform you of the progress. She is very keen to get me to change this and I am not sure what to do about it. I cant see how you can break the p scale down into smaller steps. We dont use IEPs as all our planning is derived from the EQUALs schemes. I have a feeling that she is going to challenge this as well. Any suggestions? Thanks Mike Hi,

I am the principal of a small special school in Hong Kong. We have used the P scales for a number of years now and also we submit the PACE results to Durham each year.

My problem is I have a new SEN adviser who is talking about breaking the P scales down to smaller steps so that we can track individual student progress and measure the improvement especially at P 3.

My understanding was that the p scales helps teachers to get a picture of where the child is and what can be expected. It is then for the teacher to plan the way forward and that assessment will inform you of the progress. She is very keen to get me to change this and I am not sure what to do about it. I cant see how you can break the p scale down into smaller steps.
We dont use IEPs as all our planning is derived from the EQUALs schemes. I have a feeling that she is going to challenge this as well.

Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mike

]]> Comment on Flexibility in using the P scales by pscalesmatters http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/flexibility-in-using-the-p-scales/#comment-7 pscalesmatters Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:35:20 +0000 http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/flexibility-in-using-the-p-scales/#comment-7 In response to the query about sub levels B Squared and PIVATS both generate sub levels and some people like this because it may help them to describe some progress within levels. -- the examples that have been put in by B Sq or PIVATS may be good -- but they will not be the only examples that could be possible. -- So what I feel is that whilst its fine to describe examples of progress within levels -- we should avoid letting those examples harden into a hierarchy which excludes other examples of progress that we may need to recognise. In response to the query about sub levels

B Squared and PIVATS both generate sub levels and some people like this because it may help them to describe some progress within levels. — the examples that have been put in by B Sq or PIVATS may be good — but they will not be the only examples that could be possible. — So what I feel is that whilst its fine to describe examples of progress within levels — we should avoid letting those examples harden into a hierarchy which excludes other examples of progress that we may need to recognise.

]]> Comment on Flexibility in using the P scales by Chris H http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/flexibility-in-using-the-p-scales/#comment-6 Chris H Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:28:32 +0000 http://pscalesmatters.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/flexibility-in-using-the-p-scales/#comment-6 "There is no need to create further sublevels or subdivisions within each P level." How do you feel about the bsquared assessment scheme? IMO its not using the plevels in the way they were intended. “There is no need to create further sublevels or subdivisions within each
P level.”

How do you feel about the bsquared assessment scheme? IMO its not using the plevels in the way they were intended.

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