DRDP Ratings help you complete assessments using DRDP 2015 or DRDP 2025. You can collect evidence from Learning Stories and observations, use that evidence to determine each child’s mastery levels, and prepare reports for families or DRDP Online.
Before you begin
A Site Admin must enable the required DRDP framework and create the rating periods.
Confirm which DRDP version and view each child should use.
Check that Learning Stories and observations are dated correctly. Their dates determine which rating period the evidence is associated with.
If you are going back to add or update evidence, confirm that you are working in the correct rating period before making changes.
Important: Evidence supports a child’s mastery level. Selecting or changing a mastery level does not create evidence.
How DRDP Ratings works
During a rating period, teachers collect evidence against DRDP measures using Learning Stories and observations.
When a DRDP framework is enabled for your site, it is available within Learning Stories and observations so you can link evidence as you document a child’s learning.
If more than one DRDP view is available for a child, such as Preschool View and Preschool View for Children with IEPs, check that you select the appropriate view when linking evidence. This ensures the evidence appears in the correct assessment.
At the end of the rating period, teachers:
Review the evidence collected for each child.
Add evidence for any measures that still need supporting information.
Review and confirm the appropriate mastery level for each measure.
Complete the child’s rating information.
Add Strengths and Areas for Growth.
Mark the assessment Reviewed for period.
Generate a report or export the results to DRDP Online.
Set up DRDP Ratings
🔒 Site Admins only – Only users with site admin access can configure these settings. If you don’t see this option, you don’t have permission. Ask someone with site admin access at your centre to help.
Enable a DRDP framework
Go to Tools > Frameworks.
Find the DRDP framework and view required by your centre.
Enable the framework.
Once enabled, the DRDP framework is available when teachers create Learning Stories and observations.
Create a rating period
Go to Tools > Ratings.
Select Settings.
Under Rating Periods, enter:
The rating period name
The start date
The end date
Select the + button to add the period.
Set the minimum number of evidence items required before Educa automatically selects a mastery level.
Important: This setting determines when Educa can select a mastery level based on the evidence available. It does not create evidence.
Educa uses the date of each Learning Story or observation to default the relevant rating period. Set up your rating periods before teachers begin collecting evidence.
Set up a child’s rating information
Before completing a child’s assessment:
Open the child’s Ratings page.
Select Edit Rating Info.
Choose the appropriate default DRDP view.
Complete the required child information.
Save your changes.
Complete a child’s DRDP Ratings
Check the rating period and DRDP view
Before reviewing or adding evidence:
Go to Tools > Ratings.
Select the required rating period.
Select the child’s name.
Confirm you are viewing the correct DRDP assessment.
This is particularly important when adding evidence retrospectively or when more than one DRDP view is available for the child.
Review the evidence
Evidence already linked from Learning Stories and observations appears against the relevant DRDP measures.
Review the evidence available for each measure and identify any areas that need additional supporting information.
Important: A mastery level is not evidence. Evidence must be recorded or linked first and should support the mastery level you select.
Add evidence to a measure
You can add evidence by:
Linking an existing Learning Story
Creating a new observation
Writing an observation directly using Observed
Uploading supporting evidence, such as a photo or document, with an observation
When adding evidence:
Select the measure or developmental level you want to add evidence to.
Check the evidence date.
Confirm the correct rating period and DRDP view.
Add or link the evidence.
Save your changes.
Repeat this until you have enough evidence to make an informed assessment of the child’s learning.
Review the mastery level
Once you have reviewed the available evidence, determine or confirm the mastery level that best represents what the child demonstrates.
Educa may select a mastery level when the configured evidence requirement has been met. Teachers should still review the evidence and confirm that the selected level accurately reflects the child’s demonstrated learning.
To change a mastery level:
Select the developmental level that best represents the child’s demonstrated learning.
Select Mastery Level.
Save your changes.
The mastery level should be supported by the evidence collected for that measure.
Complete Strengths and Areas for Growth
At the bottom of the child’s Ratings assessment, complete:
Strengths
Areas for Growth
Use these sections to summarise key information from the assessment.
Complete them before generating the child’s final DRDP report or exporting the assessment.
Complete the rating period
Once you have reviewed all measures:
Confirm the information under Edit Rating Info is complete.
Check that the assessment date is correct.
Confirm that the correct DRDP view has been used.
Review the evidence and mastery level for each measure.
Complete Strengths and Areas for Growth.
Select Reviewed for period.
Review ratings from the summary page
The Ratings summary page gives you an overview of children’s assessments for the selected rating period.
From this page, you can:
See which children have complete or incomplete ratings.
Open an individual child’s Ratings page.
Generate PDF reports.
Export rating information for DRDP Online.
Use the summary page to identify any children or measures that still need attention before completing the rating period.
Generate a PDF report
You can generate a PDF report from either:
The Ratings summary page
An individual child’s Ratings page
Before generating the final report, confirm that the child’s assessment is complete, including Strengths and Areas for Growth.
To generate a report:
Select the child, rating period and DRDP view.
Select PDF.
Review the generated report.
Download or print the report as required.
Export ratings to DRDP Online
Once all ratings are complete:
Go to the Ratings summary page.
Select Export.
Choose the required:
DRDP view
Rating period
Children
Download the spreadsheet.
Upload the completed file to DRDP Online.
Before exporting, check that:
Each child’s Edit Rating Info section is complete.
The assessment date is correct.
The correct DRDP view has been used.
The child’s details match their information in DRDP Online.
Strengths and Areas for Growth have been completed.
Each completed child is marked Reviewed for period.
For detailed export instructions, see Upload Data from Ratings to DRDP Online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I see a Learning Story or observation as evidence?
Why can’t I see a Learning Story or observation as evidence?
First check its date. Educa uses the date of the Learning Story or observation to determine the rating period.
Also check that the evidence was linked to the correct DRDP view.
Why is my evidence appearing in the wrong assessment?
Why is my evidence appearing in the wrong assessment?
Check which DRDP view was selected when the evidence was linked. If more than one view is available, select the view that applies to the child’s assessment.
Why can’t I see the DRDP view I need?
Why can’t I see the DRDP view I need?
A Site Admin must enable the required DRDP framework under Tools > Frameworks.
Why can’t I see any rating periods?
Why can’t I see any rating periods?
A Site Admin must create the rating period under Tools > Ratings > Settings.
Does selecting a mastery level add evidence?
Does selecting a mastery level add evidence?
No. Mastery levels do not create evidence.
Add or link evidence first, then review that evidence and select or confirm the appropriate mastery level.
Can I change the mastery level selected by Educa?
Can I change the mastery level selected by Educa?
Yes. Educa can select a mastery level based on the available evidence and your site’s configured evidence requirement. Review the evidence and change the level where necessary.
Where can I create a PDF report?
Where can I create a PDF report?
You can generate a PDF from the Ratings summary page or an individual child’s Ratings page.