B Squared Unlocked
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There is more than one type of progress!
10/20/2026
There is more than one type of progress!
Progress is the difference in attainment or achievement between two dates. Simple, right? So is there really more than one type of progress? The short answer is: very much so. In episode 2, Dale and Jon explain the different types of progress you can show for pupils with SEND, what each one tells you, and how to decide which report to use for the child in front of you. In this episode: The difference between attainment and achievement, and why the two words are so often used interchangeably. Linear progress: what a pupil can do independently on their current level, and why it is the only measure most systems offer. Non-linear progress: including what a pupil can do on the levels above, and why it matters for pupils with a “spiky” profile. How we show this in our assessment system Connecting Steps. Why you can start assessing on the next level before the current level is complete. Engagement and achievement: using the yellows and oranges to show small steps of progress when nothing is turning green. How Evisense can show a skill being used beyond the classroom. Which report to use, and why there is no single report to run for every pupil with SEND. Why non-linear and engagement progress can’t be averaged for a group, and why that matters. One number doesn’t work "SEND data is more complicated. People use B Squared because we have the smaller steps. Trying to have one set of values, one graph to represent all those children, makes no sense." — Dale Pickles Free guide – seeing every step of progress Dale has written a guide to the four types of progress you can show in Connecting Steps and Evisense: linear, non-linear, engagement and achievement, and photo and video evidence. It explains what each one tells you, what the charts look like, and which reports to use to see them. About Dale Pickles Dale is Managing Director of B Squared and has spent over 20 years working alongside schools to show the small steps of progress that matter most for pupils with SEND. He hosts regular conversations with teachers, SENCOs and sector experts on what genuinely effective assessment looks like in the classroom. About Jon Twycross Jon is Technology Director at B Squared, responsible for the development of Connecting Steps, Evisense and B Squared’s wider assessment tools. He works closely with schools to make sure the software stays practical, reliable and genuinely useful for staff on the ground. B Squared Website – Sales: B Squared Support Email: Phone: About B Squared B Squared offers assessment software and products designed to streamline pupil tracking and improve outcomes. Connecting Steps and Evisense provide secure ways to capture the small steps of progress. Creators of The SENDcast – a weekly podcast and affordable CPD training.
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Starting the year right with Connecting Steps
09/23/2026
Starting the year right with Connecting Steps
It’s the start of a new school year – which means baselining, class changes, new starters, and inevitably, a few forgotten passwords. In our very first episode, Dale and Jon explain why we’ve set up this podcast for B Squared customers, before getting straight into the practical stuff schools need to get Connecting Steps ready for the year ahead. In this episode: Why we’ve launched the B Squared Unlocked podcast to help customers get the most out of everything B Squared has to offer. How to baseline students correctly – and the new guided “Set Starting Point” screen coming soon. Setting up classes and groups for the new school year, and why “missing” pupils usually aren’t actually missing. Managing students who join or leave your school – and why you should never delete a leaver. Managing users: adding new starters, removing leavers, and what’s coming to simplify the process with Single Sign On and Multi Factor Authentication. What to do if you’ve forgotten your password after the summer break. "Baselining is essential because if you don’t tell us where the child starts, we can’t draw a line to where they ended. You need two points to draw a graph, not one." — Dale Pickles About Dale Pickles Dale is Managing Director of B Squared and has spent over 20 years working alongside schools to show the small steps of progress that matter most for pupils with SEND. He hosts regular conversations with teachers, SENCOs and sector experts on what genuinely effective assessment looks like in the classroom. About Jon Twycross Jon is Technology Director at B Squared, responsible for the development of Connecting Steps, Evisense and B Squared’s wider assessment tools. He works closely with schools to make sure the software stays practical, reliable and genuinely useful for staff on the ground. B Squared Website – Sales: B Squared Support Email: Phone: About B Squared B Squared offers assessment software and products designed to streamline pupil tracking and improve outcomes. Connecting Steps and Evisense provide secure ways to capture the small steps of progress. Creators of The SENDcast – a weekly podcast and affordable CPD training.
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