Closed petition: Ensure the Reception Baseline Assessment can be carried out screen free

Closed on 21 January 2026

We call on the Government to remove the requirement for the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) to be delivered on a digital device. We think teachers should have more flexibility to administer the assessment without screens, using printed or hands-on materials where appropriate.

The RBA is currently carried out using a computer or tablet. Some parents and educators are concerned this introduces unnecessary screen time for 4-year-old children during a critical stage of development. There are concerns that digital delivery may interfere with teacher-child interaction, introduce bias based on digital familiarity, and fail to reflect best practice in early years education. We think schools should be given the flexibility to assess using age-appropriate, screen-free methods.