Reception baseline assessment: IT guidance

Device

This requirements

FromBefore theadministering startan ofassessment, we recommend reviewing this guidance as early as possible to allow time to:

• check compatibility
• test devices and connections
• resolve any issues in advance

Completing these checks early can help reduce disruption when the 2025assessment autumnis term,administered schoolswith willpupils.

Device requirements

Schools need a minimum of 2 devices to administer the the RBA:

• Oneone device will be used by the practitioner to administer the assessment.assessment
• Thea pupiltouchscreen willdevice useused aby separatethe touchscreenpupil device to respond to questions.questions

ScreenPractitioner sizedevice

ThePractitioners minimumcan screenuse:

• a sizedesktop forcomputer bothor deviceslaptop
• a isMac
• an 9.7iPad
• an inchesAndroid (measuredtablet
• a diagonally).Windows tablet
• a Chromebook tablet

Practitioners may find it helpful to use a device that allows them to easily access their email account, as they will receive a multi-factor authentication (MFA) code by email when signing in to each device.

Practitioners using shared devices, where sign-in details cannot be saved, will need to ensure they have their username and password available when accessing the services.

TouchscreenPupil device

The pupil device must behave a touchscreen toand enablecan pupilsbe:

• an toiPad
• an respondAndroid totablet
• a theWindows assessmenttablet
• a questions.Chromebook tablet
• an interactive whiteboard

The pupil’s touchscreen must be at least 9.7 inches measured diagonally from corner to corner.

Operating systems and browsers

The RBA is accessed through a web browser (the software you use to access the internet).

YouThe RBA can run on the RBAlatest onversion of the following operating systems and browsers:

SecurityRecommended actions

TheWe devicesstrongly yourecommend usepractitioners toand administerIT staff complete the assessmentfollowing shouldchecks beto ownedensure andthey managedare byprepared to administer the school.RBA:

Schools

Check shouldyour takedevices appropriateare measuresready

For toboth ensuredevices, theiryou devicesshould ensure that:

• they are safeswitched on, fully charged and secure,in suchgood asworking applyingorder
• the filteringauto andlock, antivirushibernate software.

  Theand Departmentsleep formode Education’sfeatures guidanceare on meetingdisabled

• all digitaldevices andhave technologyrecently standardsbeen inupdated schoolswith andthe colleges provideslatest informationoperating onsystem whatand schoolsbrowser shouldversion, doand tothat ensurethere theare safetyno andscheduled securityor ofautomatic theirupdates deviceson andthe technology.

  Recommendedday actionsof beforethe administration

  assessment

TheIf RBAyour administrationdevices guidanceare providesshared informationor tocentrally helpmanaged, practitionersyou preparemay forneed andIT administersupport theto RBA.regularly update your devices.

We

Check recommendyour ITinternet staffconnection

A andstable practitionersinternet completeconnection theis followingessential checksfor before administering anthe assessment:

CheckRBA, yourwhich devicesrelies areon readya tocontinuous use

Forconnection bothbetween devices,the youpractitioner shouldand ensurepupil that:devices.

• they

  You areshould switchedensure on,the fullyconnection chargedis stable, reliable and consistent in goodthe workinglocation order

• theyou autoplan lock,to hibernateadminister andthe sleepassessment.

  Prepare modeyour featuresinternet arebrowser 

  You disabled

should ensure that:
• any unnecessary tabs on the browser are closed
• any other applications are closed
• the browser is not in privacy or Incognitoincognito mode
• cookies are enabled
• the browser has local storage access enabled
• pop-up blocker software is disabled

Check

Checking your devices connectare tocompatible

The RBA works when your devices and the assessment services

Practitionersservice shouldcommunicate usewith theeach ‘Checkother through your devicesschool’s cannetwork.

We pairstrongly andrecommend connectyou touse the service’‘Preview the assessment’ section ofwithin the ‘Assessment service: start an assessment’ to check theirboth devices can administerconnect to the RBA.service, pair with each other and maintain a stable connection throughout an assessment.

You canshould findcarry moreout informationthese inchecks ‘Preparingunder the same conditions you plan to administer the assessment – for example, in the assessment’same withinlocation and using the RBAsame administrationdevices guidance.and wifi connection.

Troubleshooting 

IfThis yousection experienceprovides connectiontroubleshooting issuesadvice duringfor anschools assessment,that youexperience shouldissues followconnecting thesetheir steps,devices. whichPractitioners may need help from their IT support to resolve your issue: these.

1. Restart

   Internet yourfiltering browser: Close and re-openfirewall itissues

   The RBA services inneed ato newcommunicate window,with thensupporting re-enterservices.

   Most theschools assessment.use Thisinternet shouldfiltering allowor youfirewall systems to continuekeep withpupils thesafe pupil’sonline. assessment. 

2. ClearSometimes yourthese cachesystems andcan cookies:block Signparts out of DfEthe RBA Sign-in,without closeshowing allan browserobvious windows,error andmessage. clearThis yourcan cachecause andthe cookiesassessment onto bothfreeze devices.or Thendisconnect.

   It tryis toimportant resumethat theyou assessment. 

3. Checkallowlist yourall internetsubdomains stability:under Ensure‘.education.gov.uk’.

   You yourmust school’salso internetensure connectionthe isfollowing stable.domains Youare canaccessible useacross ayour broadbandnetwork:

   • assessment-service-cdn.sta.education.gov.uk
   • prod.assessment-service-connections.sta.education.gov.uk
   • dc.services.visualstudio.com

   Connection speedissues

   If testyou toexperience verifyconnection thisissues, –the iffollowing youactions havemay nothelp usedto oneresolve before,them: 

   • Restart your youbrowser.
   • Sign shouldout, beclose ableall tobrowser findwindows, aand freeclear your cache and reputablecookies oneon usingboth devices.
   • Check your preferredinternet search engine. 
     connection.

   • Try ananother alternativedevice setup:or Trylocation.

   • Check toyour administerdevice has the assessmentlatest usingoperating differentsystem devicesand orbrowser inversion a different location.
     installed.

Further support

IfIf, youafter havecompleting athe technicalactions issue,in share this guidance withand yourreviewing school’sthe ITtroubleshooting supportinformation, team.

Ifyou they are unable to fixresolve theany issue,issues includingyou tryingare theexperiencing, suggested troubleshooting steps, you can contact us or or call the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013, selecting the option for for RBA.

You will need to provide the following information so we can give you the best support:

• type of device – for example, desktop, laptop, tablet or iPad
• operating system – for example, Windows, macOS, iOS or Android
• browser – for example, Edge or Chrome
• as much detail as possible – we recommend taking a screenshot

WeDepending mayon alsothe asknature youof forthe additionalissue, information,we dependingmay onalso theask natureyou offor theadditional issue,information such as:

• pupil details
• timing when the issue occurred
• any troubleshooting stepsactions already taken

You can find more information about the RBA, including how to access the assessment services using DfE Sign-in, and how to prepare for and administer the assessment, in the RBA administration guidance.