Here’s a quick summary of what’s new this month. Please share your feedback on this update.
Work smarter, not harder – meaningful assessment and evidence without the stress
With B Squared, you can assess pupils from their individual starting points and track progress clearly, quickly and consistently. Our goal is simple: to help teachers save time by delivering high-quality assessment and evidence without unnecessary workload. We want to help your school get the very best from our software!
Using Connecting Steps for assessment lets you tick off group achievements in seconds, then zoom in to capture each pupil’s individual progress. It even includes built-in AI to speed things up. With one click, you can create report summaries, next steps and lesson plans from your assessments – and translate them into 40 different languages!
Plus, our new Evisense Explorer level gives access for all students covered by your Connecting Steps licence. Sharing progress updates is quick and easy, helping you build parental engagement without adding to teacher workload. It’s full of clever time-savers to make assessing, reporting and sharing updates faster and simpler – more details below.
And don’t forget our low-cost, flexible SEND training and on-demand CPD from The SENDcast, ready whenever you need it!
All change in Education Policy!
There’s a lot going on in Education right now! Amongst other announcements, this term has seen the release of Ofsted’s New Inspection Framework, publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report, and delays to the Schools White Paper.
At B Squared, we can’t wait for the White Paper or another 6 years of reports.
We help schools to act now:
✅ One assessment system for all pupils in primary (SEND is not a bolt-on)
✅ Show progress from starting point for every child
✅ Use Evisense comms hub to build active, positive parental engagement
✅ Training & CPD through the SENDcast and SENDcast Sessions
✅ Analytics platform to help schools plan smarter and evidence the impact
Stay informed with updates on the latest announcements and what they mean for SEND, our MD, Dale Pickles shares his thoughts.
Did you know: how to view a pupil’s One Page Profile in Connecting Steps?
Quickly and easily view One Page Profiles (OPPs) directly in Connecting Steps to better understand and support each child. Profiles must be created in Evisense, the new Explorer access level allows schools to add OPPs for all students covered by their Connecting Steps licence.
Here’s a selection of sample OPPs, there are several templates to choose from, with layouts suitable for younger students and all ages.
To view a pupil’s One Page Profile in Connecting Steps:
1. Navigate to Assessments | Student Assessment.
2. Make selections for Group, Student, Framework, Subject, Profile, and Level to display a Student’s achievements on the Student Assessment screen.
3. Click on the One Page Profile icon. The latest version of a Student’s One Page Profile is displayed on screen. You can also click to download a .pdf version.
Not using Connecting Steps? Book a FREE online demo to find out how to show progress from starting point for all your pupils.
book a demo
Quick reminder on teacher time savers
- Post progress updates directly from Connecting Steps into Evisense to keep parents updated – Easily and securely share student progress visuals with parents – how to guide
- Assess directly from Evisense – If you link a post to Assessment Content, when you publish the post, you’re asked if you want to assess. When you do this, you are viewing and updating the student’s assessment in Connecting Steps directly from Evisense! – how to guide
- Save time bulk printing reports for individual students – Create separate pdfs in one go when multi-selecting your students. Evisense also remembers your last print filter settings in the session for faster printing – how to guide
Not using our communication hub for parents and schools?
Sign up for a FREE 3-month trial to see how Evisense can help your school build active, positive parental engagement.
Didn’t see our latest training? – watch the recording now
We know how much the OFSTED framework can drive decision-making in schools; what the new framework says about SEND is essential knowledge for all school staff!
B Squared customers can get a 1-year subscription for your whole school to access
150+ expert-led training videos for just £100+VAT!
Don’t miss our Dyslexia training this December!
Many pupils with dyslexia face challenges with reading comprehension and literacy confidence – but with the right strategies, we can make a huge difference.
Lou Barnes delivers two expert training sessions packed with practical techniques to support dyslexic and struggling readers.
register
Have you listened to our FREE podcast?
Coming up in December
Episodes on sensory struggles with eating, how to make an effective Education Health and Care Plan, and helping learning to stick.
Here’s a reminder of our November episodes
- Exploring Neuro-Dramatic-Play – Dr Sue Jennings
- How Informed Parents Can Change the SEND System – Samantha Ryan
- Sensory Processing – Exactly How Does It Impact On Daily Life? – Ali Neal
- Adaptive Teaching Through 5 Phases of the Lesson – Sara Alston
All our latest episodes are available to watch as videos on YouTube.
Here’s one to watch
Céin McGillicuddy, director of The Assembly, and his creative partner Andy Kinnear join Dale on the podcast to talk about their new ITV pilot Play Time. The show follows six neurodivergent comedians who spend a day in a primary school creating a stage play based on ideas from 6-8 year old pupils, including many from the SEND department. Céin and Andy share how the show was made, what inspired it, and why inclusive TV matters. They explain how positive SEND representation helps normalise these experiences and reduces feelings of ‘otherness.’ As they say, “Play Time is about listening to children that don’t usually get heard.”
MORE NEWS
Welcome to our latest B Squared Gold Partner – Rowden House
Showing progress towards Preparing for Adulthood
Rowden House school provides individualised care and education programmes for young people aged 11-19 with severe learning difficulties, autism and challenging behaviour.
“We introduced B Squared’s Steps4Life framework, having experienced the benefits of using Connecting Steps. It enables us to assess the relevant skills our post 16 students are developing, to prepare them for adult life.”
Lucy Armstrong-Clarke, Head of Post 16 Provision
Get great rewards as a B Squared Gold Partner!
30% off Evisense
20% off Connecting Steps annual hosting
20% off SENDcast Sessions online training
Showcase your school, support others, and gain exclusive discounts and benefits from us.
It’s not too late to watch this term’s FREE webinars
This term’s webinar series offers valuable insights for Teachers, SENCOs, Senior Leaders, and Governors – all designed to help improve outcomes for pupils with SEND:
How to use our SEMH framework
What is Good Progress for pupils with SEND?
Governors and SEND Data: Part 1 (Guide for Senior Leaders)
Governors and SEND Data: Part 2 (Guide for Governors) – watch here
B Squared on the road – come and see us at an event near you
It’s been a busy term, with 6 major events across the UK, including Autism Europe Congress in Dublin, the National Education Show in Cardiff and MCM ComicCon in London. The last was a favourite of our MD Dale, “Why Comic Con? Because there’s a huge overlap between geek culture and neurodiversity – and it’s something worth celebrating, not hiding. The creativity, hyperfocus, passion and community that make ComicCon a amazing event are also things that shine brightly in neurodivergent people.” – upcoming events
Get help when you need it
Remember, if you have any questions, our support team are happy to help. Book a FREE 15-minute online meeting, and they’ll guide you through anything you need.
Please share your feedback
We want to make sure that our monthly updates are useful for customers, so we’re really keen to get your feedback. Please let us know what you think.
