KS1 Guide 2023

Welcome to the Nexus guide for Key Stage 1 in 2022/23

• Find out what the KS1 process looks like in 2023 and what it means for you, your colleagues and your schools.
• Understand the data collection process for KS1 in 2023, including key dates.
• Find out how you and your schools can benefit from NCER National figures.

Jump to..

• 2023 Timeline for KS1
• KS1 Data Explained
• Nexus Reports & Features
• Your questions answered

2023 Timeline for KS1

KS1 events are shown in green on THIS timeline

The Key Stage 1 files (usually CTFs, but could also be CSVs) will begin arriving to your LA from mid-June and continue until the deadline. Some LAs might set this deadline earlier than illustrated on the above timeline, in order to allow for data cleaning.

COLLECT is open to receive your XML returns exported from Keypas until 21 July.

The DfE will release their initial phonics statistical publication in late-September Thanks to Nexus, your LA has access to NCER National figures, up to two and a half months before DfE published statistics. NCER National figures are subject to change as they are updated with each importing LA, but historically have been accurate and extremely useful in giving LAs a strong indication of emerging national trends.

NCER National results are the earliest available national benchmark and source of progress data. They have been a reliable and robust source of early data for LAs and schools over the past 6 years of collections, when compared to DfE National data.

NCER National results are an accumulated aggregation of data collected from schools by local authorities and become more robust as more LAs load their data. As such these figures are subject to change, it should be noted that NCER National figures are provisional and unpublished indicators of national benchmarks - not official DfE National data.

Nexus imports only teacher assessments, not test results. For more information on KS1 tests and their scaled scores, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores-at-key-stage-1

 

The Data

In Key Stage 1 in 2023 as schools will continue to use the Engagement Model for pupils below the standard of the Key Stage. 

There is a range of possible performance categories for each subject, you can see these illustrated in the tables below.

The target for every child is to be working at the expected standard (EXS). However, there are categories for those working at greater depth (GDS). For those working lower than the expected standard (WTS, HNM, PK1–PK4, EM). 

Reading, writing and maths have the same categories. Science does not have a greater depth outcome and everything below the Expected Standard is recorded as Has Not Met (HNM).

The table below shows the data items collected for each child.

 

Key Nexus Reports and Features for KS1

Once your KS1 data is imported into Keypas, you can make use of valuable Nova reports and Keypas cleaning reports. Some examples of these are below.

	Keypas: Data Errors Quickly identify the issues that need resolving within your data by reading the data errors report that lists each pupil record that has failed a validation check and the reason why. This report is best used alongside the data cleaning grids for rapid resolution of errors.
	Nova: KS1 Summary (School, LA, Regional & National) View schools, the LA, regional or the NCER National picture in a report that neatly summarises the cohort's achievement in all subjects. School improvement colleagues who have access to Nova can use this as a real time report to get a good overview of how the school is comparing to the LA and NCER National.
	Nova: KS1 Pupil List Quickly list each pupil per school. This report is ideal for supporting your quality assurance processes. You can let schools check what data they have submitted before it gets sent to the DfE by sending the report back to the school through Perspective Lite.
	Nova: KS1 Gap Analysis Discover the gap between a school, the LA & regional averages and the NCER National average. See the proportion of children achieving an expected level or above in each subjects and in multi-subject indicators. Use the bar charts for a quick comparison between subjects.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Local Authorities collect this data?	Yes, it is a statutory duty for local authorities to collect this from schools.
Where is the import?	Nexus > Keypas > Imports > Import New File > KS1
What are the expected import file types?	XML (CTF) or CSV (template available from DfE)
When will the 2021 TA import become available?	May 2023
What areas does it update?	Nova Reports and Batch Reporting. Insight Headlines and Intelligence Attainment Trends & Attainment widgets on the Nexus home page. Schools module data tabs in Nexus. Real Time data trends, Nova reports and Insight in Perspective Lite (if enabled). End of Year 2 Summary Reports (Phonics tree view).
Where is the return process?	Nexus > Keypas > DfE Returns > KS1
What is the Returns destination?	COLLECT
Are there KS1 Tests?	Pupils do undertake KS1 tests which are used to inform the teacher assessment, but there is no facility in Nexus to collect them as they are no longer a statutory return.
What are ‘NCER National’ figures?	The NCER National figures displayed in Nexus are calculated by harnessing the strength that comes from all LAs in England uploading their data into Nexus’ Keypas module. As more LAs load in their data, the figures become more robust.  These figures are provisional and unpublished indicators of national benchmarks, however NCER National figures have been robust when compared to official DfE National data over the past 5 years.