Assess Pupil Progress Across Curriculums
We offer a wide range of assessment frameworks designed to fit alongside your school’s curriculum.
Inclusive Assessment System
Our frameworks work with a wide age range and a wide ability range to suit pupils with SEND and pupils working at Age Related Expectations (ARE). By combining the different frameworks into Connecting Steps you have an inclusive assessment system for all pupils.
This page contains information for schools in England, if you are a school in Wales or Scotland, please visit the relevant pages.
Benefits of using one system…
Reduces teacher workload
Saves time & money
Reduces complexity and simplifies data
SEND solutions for your setting
Additional frameworks
Pupils with SEND need support in a wide range of areas. We have developed some additional frameworks – including area of need and neurodiversity – to help school support pupils better, identify areas to support and show progress more holistically.
Early Years
Early Steps
Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) assessment covers the range from birth to the Early Learning Goals (ELG) and beyond. We have used the EYFS 2021 Framework and the 2020 Development Matters when developing this framework. Our Early Steps covers the seven areas:
Learn more sample pagesFor schools already using Connecting Steps, the Early Steps framework can be added from just £175 for up to 30 students.
1. Mathematics
2. Literacy
3. Physcial Development
4 . Communications and Language
5. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
6. Understanding the World
7. Expressive Arts and Design
Primary
Primary Steps
Primary Steps is for pupils in primary schools, working below Age Related Expectations (ARE). Schools typically use Primary Steps with any pupil working 2 years or more below ARE. The Primary Steps incorporates the Pre-Key Stage Standards. Primary Steps covers a developmental range equivalent to P4 to Year 6.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Primary Steps framework can be added from just £350 for up to 30 students.
Primary Steps assessment content is available in 3 packs and covers the following areas:
Core Pack
English
Maths
Science
Plus Pack
Computing
PSHE (Includes Relationship Education)
PE
Foundation Pack
Art & Design
Design & Technology
Geography
History
Languages
Music
Religious Education
Secondary
Progression Steps
Progression Steps is designed for pupils who are engaging with subject-specific learning. This framework covers an ability range from pupils working at pre-key stage standards up to pupils working towards the lower GCSE grades. It is ideal for pupils in specialist settings or for pupils with SEND in secondary mainstream settings.
The Progression Steps covers a wide ability range and is designed for both primary age and secondary age pupils. The Progression Steps level structure was created by B Squared, but fits in with expectations set by the DfE.
The Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) is our latest pack. It is designed to be used up to Year 9 to help pupils prepare for life beyond education.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Progression Steps framework can be added from just £350 for up to 30 students.
The Progression Steps assessment content is available in 5 packs and covers the following areas:
Core Pack
English
Maths
Science
Plus Pack
Citizenship
Computing
PSHE (Includes Relationship and Sex Education)
PE
Performing Arts Pack
Acting
Singing
Dancing
Stagecraft
There are various frameworks that can be used in your Secondary setting, click below to view all options.
Engagement Steps
Engagement Steps is our assessment framework for pupils not yet engaged in subject-specific learning. It supports schools to use the Engagement Model. If you are unsure what the Engagement Model is, if it applies to your pupils or how you are supposed to embed the Engagement Model, please read our blog Who isn’t confused by the Engagement Model?
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Engagement Steps framework can be added from just £175 for up to 30 students.
Engagement Steps was updated in 2022 and uses the following areas:
Communication
Attention Skills
Communicating Preference and Choice
Interaction
Functional Movement
Fine Motor Skills
Gross Motor Skills
Making Connections
Cognitive
Sensory
Alternative Provision
Using the Personal Development Assessment Model (PDAM) created by Philip Parker (founder of InspirEd), this framework is designed specifically for Alternative Provision settings. It helps staff identify barriers, track progress and support successful reintegration into mainstream education wherever appropriate.
This framework focuses on the wider personal development that underpins engagement with learning. Development is assessed across five key domains, giving staff a clear picture of each pupil’s strengths, needs, triggers and progress:
Emotional Self & Identity
Personal Management & Independence
Relationships & Communication
Thinking & Achievement
Society & Citizenship
The framework provides clear evidence of pupil development and aligns with key areas of the Ofsted School Inspection Toolkit, including inclusion, behaviour, personal development, and progress from starting points. It supports targeted intervention, tracks development over time, and helps leaders demonstrate effective support strategies and oversight of pupils placed in Alternative Provision.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Alternative Provision framework can be added from just £50 for up to 30 students.
Post-16
Steps 4 Life
Steps 4 Life is a broad and flexible assessment framework designed to prepare learners with SEND for adulthood. It covers a wide range of academic skills, life skills, and employability skills, supporting young people as they move towards greater independence, further education, or the world of work.
The framework is built around real-world learning, helping learners develop the practical knowledge and confidence they need for everyday life. Steps 4 Life can be used with individuals aged 14 to 25 and beyond, and is ideal for schools, colleges, alternative provisions, and care settings. Whether students are working towards full independence, semi-independent living, or supported living, Steps 4 Life provides a clear structure to recognise and celebrate every step of progress.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Steps 4 Life framework can be added from just £500 for up to 30 students.
The Steps 4 Life assessment content is available in 3 packs and covers the following areas:
Academic Skills Pack
English
Maths
PSD (Including Relationships & Sex Education)
Digital Skills
Life Skills Pack
Food
Independence
Self care
Travel
Empolyability Skills Pack
Identify a job
Getting a job
Geography
Your rights
Workplace routines
Workplace skills
The Communication and Interaction framework supports schools in assessing and developing how pupils express themselves, understand others, and interact socially. It breaks communication down into clear, manageable areas, recognising that individuals can communicate in many different ways — through speech, signing, symbols, gestures, or behaviour.
Designed for use alongside our other frameworks, Communication and Interaction helps staff pinpoint where support is needed, plan targeted interventions, and track small but important steps of progress. It provides a flexible, strengths-based approach to communication development, whether pupils are using emerging language skills or working towards more complex social communication.
Each area goes from level 1 (birth – 3 months) to level 16 (13 – 15years). The levels are based on typical development and students are likely to be working across a number of different levels, based on their needs.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Communication & Interaction framework can be added from just £175 for up to 30 students.
Clear, manageable areas
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
The SEMH framework supports schools in assessing and developing pupils’ social, emotional, and mental health skills. It breaks SEMH down into clear areas like recognising emotions, managing feelings, building positive relationships, and making social decisions – skills that are critical for learning, wellbeing, and life beyond school.
Designed to be used alongside our other frameworks, the SEMH framework helps staff identify specific strengths and needs, plan targeted support, and track meaningful steps of progress. It promotes a proactive, strengths-based approach to supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and social development, not just reacting when difficulties arise.
Each area goes from level 1 (birth – 1 year) to level 11 (13 – 15years). The levels are based on typical development and students are likely to be working across a number of different levels, based on their needs.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the SEMH framework can be added from just £250 for up to 30 students.
Covering the following areas:
Preparing for Adulthood (PFA)
We have created a small Preparing for Adulthood framework that covers the 4 PFA areas. It uses the same level structure as the Progression Steps, so goes from a developmental stage of around 18 months to around the developmental stage of a typical 15-year-old.
It is not a big framework, it is not designed to be used on its own to support older learners. It has been created to be used alongside a subject based curriculum to the end of key stage 3. It works well with our Primary Steps or Progression Steps frameworks.
Employment
Independent Living
Community Inclusion
Health
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Preparing for Adulthood framework can be added from just £75 for up to 30 students.
Our Steps 4 Life framework is a fuller framework designed for pupils in key stage 4 and above to support functional academic skills, life skills and employability skills. Pupils can transition from the PFA framework to Steps 4 Life and all the skills they have already acquired are automatically transferred.
Sample pagesAutism Progress
Autism Progress is a profiling tool designed to help schools, colleges, and care settings better understand how autism presents in each individual. It focuses on four key areas — Communication, Social Interaction, Flexibility of Thought, and Emotional Regulation — recognising that autistic individuals often have very spiky profiles, with strengths and needs across different areas.
Autism Progress allows staff to build a detailed, personalised profile, whether or not a formal diagnosis is in place. It provides clear descriptors and practical strategies to reduce barriers, promote wellbeing, and support learning and participation at every stage of development.
For schools already using Connecting Steps, the Autism Progress framework can be added from just £250 for up to 30 students.
Autism Progress helps build a profile of an individuals autism in the following areas:
Communication
Flexibility of Thought
Social Interaction
Emotional Regulation
Each area goes from level 1 (around birth) to level 17 (early adulthood). A significant benefit of Autism Progress are the strategies that it contains, we have worked with experts to create a list of strategies for each area and each level to help support your students.
guide sample pages autism progress