Bilingual pupils who are literate in their first language can access assessment arrangements for use of a bilingual dictionary. See SQA guidance for more information.

(Credit to Aberdeen City EAL Service for sharing this information)

This guidance is on SNSA but relevant for any standardised assessments. On the public Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) website: https://standardisedassessment.gov.scot/ there is some information on the assessment of ASN and EAL pupils (keep scrolling down). However, there is more information when schools log in. Here is the key information.

Main points:

·      the tests are designed to be accessible to children and young people with ASN or EAL

·      teachers should use professional judgement when considering whether it is appropriate for the child or young person to sit the tests

·      it may be appropriate to present a child or young person with an assessment in literacy but not in numeracy or vice versa

·      in certain circumstances, a child or young person with ASN or EAL will be able to sit ‘out of stage’ assessments

·      there is no time limit for the assessments

·      assessments can be completed in multiple sessions

·      teachers should use professional judgement when considering whether it is appropriate to provide bilingual dictionaries to individuals with EAL

·      as a guide, any support and assistance should bring the child or young person with ASN or EAL onto a 'level playing field' with other children and young people

·      any tools, strategies or support staff used in day-to-day classroom practice should also be used for the assessment

Therefore, the level of support given to EAL pupils when sitting the tests will be determined by the School/SMT/class teacher.