P Scales are a set of performance descriptors used in the United Kingdom to assess the progress of pupils with special educational needs who are working below the national curriculum level. They were introduced in 1999 as part of the National Curriculum Framework and are used in mainstream and special schools.
The P Scales provide a framework for assessing and recording the progress of pupils with special educational needs who are not yet working at the level of the national curriculum. They cover eight levels of attainment, from P1 to P8, with P1 being the lowest level of attainment and P8 being the highest.
The P Scales describe what a pupil can do, rather than what they cannot do, and are based on the principle that every pupil has the potential to make progress. They are intended to be used as a guide, rather than a definitive measure of a pupil’s ability, and are designed to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of individual pupils.
The P Scales cover a range of areas of learning, including communication, physical development, personal and social development, and cognition and learning. They provide descriptors for each area of learning, which teachers can use to assess the progress of their pupils and to set targets for future learning.
The P Scales are often used in conjunction with other assessment tools, such as Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Annual Reviews. They are also used to report progress to parents and to inform decisions about the support and resources needed to meet the individual needs of pupils with special educational needs.
