Overview

This guide explains how you can assess children working below their PKS. It also provides links to the DfEs guidance about this.

Instructions

To enter the assessments of pupils working below their Key Stage (PKS) in Sonar Tracker: 

1. Select Assessments.
2. Select Primary Summative (New) from the Teacher Assessments list.
3. When prompted:
   
   1. Select one or more Year Groups and / or Classes for which you wish to enter test results.
   2. Select Open Assessment.
4. From the Primary Summative Assessment page, optionally select:
   
   1. Any filters as required.
   2. A different Assessment Point (by default, this is the current Assessment Point).
   3. Up to 10 subjects to display instead of the default ones.
5. For each pupil who is working outside of their band:

   1. Select the subject where you want to enter a grade:

      

   2. Select View All Codes:

      

   3. From the menu comprising all codes, select the appropriate assessment code:

      Select Triangulate to see a summary of the pupil's Formative assessment data, along with their Test Scores, current Target, Statutory results and previous Summative assessment data. This is a great aide-memoire when recording your Summative assessment data at the selected assessment point:
      

Outcome

After selecting the appropriate assessment code, the pupil assessment is saved:

Ensure the Assessment Saved indicator in the top-right corner of the page is displayed to confirm your updates have been made. 

In this example, the pupil is in Year 6, however, they are working below their expected level, at the Year 5 At level.

DfEs guidance about assessing using Pre Key Stage Standards

The DfE guidance for Pre Key Stage Standards states:

The pre-key stage standards are provided for the statutory assessment of pupils engaged in subject-specific study who are working below the overall standard of the national curriculum tests and teacher assessment frameworks.

They continue that the standards are not intended to be used to assess children between Key Stages

The standards are not a formative assessment tool: they should not be used to track progress throughout the key stage or to guide individual programmes of study, classroom practice or methodology. Teachers should assess individual pieces of pupils’ work in line with their school’s own, more detailed, assessment policy and not against these standards. Those reviewing school performance, including Ofsted inspectors, would not expect them to be used for anything other than summative assessment at the end of the key stage.

Therefore, we only include these as an option in Statutory Reporting.

Training

Summative Assessments: Demonstration and Benefits

To support the launch of the new Summative Assessments pages, we have produced the following resources that you'll find useful:

1. Demonstration of the new Summative Assessments pages.
2. Blog - Exploring why we've enhanced this experience and how it will benefit your school.

Updated 17 April 2026 13:12