The Tellus Survey - an overview

Alison Thompson: Analysis and Research DivisionDCSF Conference: The Use of Evidence in Policy Development and Delivery, 9 February 2010

Tellus is …

a quantitative self-completion survey designed to gather CYP views on their life, their school and their local area

The source of data to inform five DCSF led indicators in the national indicator set and three DCSF leds PSAs

The Survey

annual survey covers years 6, 8 and 10 includes all types of mainstream schools (primary,

middle, secondary, academies, PRUs and special schools, and Services Children Education)

inclusive of vulnerable and hard to reach groups such as children with SEN and disabilities

seeks CYP perceptions of, and experiences and satisfaction with universal services available to them (but not specialist services)

Benefits to us from gathering the views of children and young people

better outcomes customer focus identify gaps or problems CYP involvement in decision making

Key aims for Tellus4 - first survey delivered by DCSF and NFER

to produce robust data everyone has confidence in using

improve support to schools and local authorities – our key delivery partners

improve the accessibility of the survey, to all children but

especially those with disabilities and SEN

Tellus4 Portal

www.tellussurvey.org.uk

The Survey‘can I firstly say how easy it is to use (the portal) and well-designed ‘‘We had a very good response from our schools for both TellUs 2 and 3 but this year it is exceptional…our admin officer…is doing an admiral job ([and) tells me the helpline is indeed very helpful’.‘Our level of buy-in far exceeds what there was last year so I think your new approach is working well so far’.

Feedback received from LAs and schools

The Survey

A parent accessing the portal said: ‘I have been on the site and looked up the relevant items. I feel I can talk about the up and coming survey, with confidence, with my child’.

Feedback received from a parent

The Survey‘One pupil involved in piloting the SEND versions said ‘It’s like they’re talking to you like a normal human being, like a one on one. You could say things that you wouldn’t want to say to family and friends’ while another commented ‘It was easy to understand, the symbols give you more information about the answers’. Teaching staff also found that ‘the kids enjoyed it’ and praised the SEND versions because the Tellus team had ‘thought really carefully about lots of different needs’ and, as a result, it was ‘good that [pupils] can share their views in the way they can communicate’.

Children and young people and their teachers

To contribute towards improving outcomes for all children and young people by providing robust information to measure children’s perceptions of their lives in each of the five every child matters outcomes.

Tellus the way forwardTellus4

Small strategic independent qualitative evaluation looking specifically at delivery in schools and the SEND improvements. Will be used to inform the development of Tellus5 in conjunction with feedback received via Tellus portal.

Tellus5

Not expecting any significant changes to be made to Tellus5 questionnaires or delivery model. Subject to the evaluation findings and Portal feedback - more a question of fine tuning.

2011 onwards

Currently exploring feasibility of developing the Tellus Survey into a national pupil perception survey that can inform school level pupil well being indicators, national indicators and PSAs. Working with School Report Card pilots to inform way forward.