Within the Essential Assessment platform, schools have the ability to create Parent Updates to share meaningful learning information with families, including Areas of Success, Future Focus Areas, and Areas of Growth. These updates are generated using assessment data already collected within the platform, meaning no additional workload is created for teachers.
Overview
Parent Updates can be shared digitally with families through a unique PIN code or QR code, allowing parents to securely access the information on their personal devices. This provides schools with the opportunity to communicate ongoing learning progress throughout the school year, rather than waiting for formal reporting periods.
The Parent Update may include:
Specifically selected learning information
A digital portfolio of student work (accessible via the magnifying glass icon)
Learn Videos that demonstrate the concepts students are learning
These features help parents gain greater insight into the language, strategies, and processes being used in the classroom, enabling them to better support learning at home.
Using the Parent Update feature in this way requires a school-based decision to ensure there is a consistent and considered approach to communication with families across the school. We also recommend viewing and potentially sharing the accompanying parent information video if your school chooses to implement the digital Parent Update feature.
Once a Parent Update has been created, families should be notified through the school’s usual communication channels and provided with instructions to access the update via the web address, PIN code, or QR code.
Note: If your school does not wish to share this information through the ongoing digital portal, the Parent Update feature can still be used as a powerful tool to support report writing and strengthen engagement during parent-teacher or parent-teacher-student conversations.
The Parent Update provides a meaningful way to discuss and celebrate:
what students know and can do
areas for future learning and growth
evidence of understanding and misunderstanding through the digital assessment portfolio
progress and growth over time
Most importantly, it helps place student growth and learning progress at the centre of conversations with families.
Creating a Parent Update
Step 1: Ensure an Educator is assigned to the class. You can do this by navigating to the Class Profile tab within your class.
Please note: School leaders do not need to be attached to the class.
Step 2: Open up the Parent Update tab from the Class Dashboard.
From here, click the + icon to create a new Parent Update.
At the bottom of the Parent Update Builder, enter a name for the update (this will only be visible to you).
From here, click + Select Update Details. Switch the toggle to ON for the assessment data you would like to include. As assessments are selected, the Parent Update will automatically begin building the content.
Switch the toggles at the bottom of the Parent Update Builder to IS ON or IS OFF, depending on what information you would like to include.
Click Preview Mode to see a preview of what the Parent Update will look like for the parent or caregiver.
Click back to the main overview and switch the toggle to ACTIVE when you are ready for the update to be viewable. From here, you can also choose an expiry date for the update.
Customisable Parent Update Options
The options along the bottom of the screen allow schools to customise what information is shared with families. A consistent whole-school approach to these settings is recommended.
Result Display Options
You can choose how assessment results are displayed:
None — No result will be displayed
Level — Displays the level outcome for each assessment
Percentage — Displays the percentage result achieved
Areas of Success
Displays concepts and skills the student has demonstrated understanding of.
Future Focus Areas
Displays concepts and skills requiring further development.
Areas of Growth
Highlights new understandings demonstrated after mid-point or post-assessments.
Learning Target
This setting is OFF by default.
When turned ON, teachers can write a summary statement about the student’s learning, which will appear at the top of the Parent Update.
Student Comments
This setting is OFF by default.
When turned ON, teachers can add individualised comments for students. This may be particularly useful for students requiring personalised feedback or support.
Questions Review
Allows teachers and parents to view the assessment questions students answered, providing valuable insight into demonstrated understanding and misconceptions.
My Numeracy / My Literacy Activities
Displays results from completed My Numeracy or My Literacy activities, helping demonstrate concept mastery and new understandings.
Learning Library Videos
Allows Learn Videos to be included within the Parent Update to support understanding of the concepts being taught and learned.
Viewing Individual Student Parent Updates
While in Preview Mode, you can select individual student names to view their personalised Parent Update.
Export Options
In the top right-hand corner of the screen, you will find the Export Options.
This is available in for All Students as a PDF file, the current student as a PDF file, or all students as individual PDFs (ZIP file).
Sharing the Parent Update directly to Parents
Click Export Parent Login Details to export login details to access the Parent Update. From here, choose how you would like to download the details.
You can then go ahead and send the PDF below to parents and caregivers. They can then log into the account by following this link and using the School code and Parent Pin, or they can scan the QR code.