bsquared.co.uk

What It Is

B Squared is a provider of assessment and learning-evidence software for UK schools, with more than 25 years of experience serving schools. Its core focus is not general-purpose school administration SaaS, but helping schools demonstrate students’ “small-step progress,” especially for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Its products cover a range of curriculum and assessment frameworks across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Core Features and Collaboration

Connecting Steps is its flagship assessment software. It records the skills students have mastered, the steps they are taking toward achievement, changes in engagement, and visualizes small-step, non-linear progress through charts. It includes multiple assessment frameworks, supports different ages and ability levels from early years through post-16, and covers needs such as Cognition and Learning, Communication & Interaction, SEMH, and Sensory and Physical.

Evisense is its learning-evidence system. It allows teachers to capture photos, videos, and audio using devices such as iPhone, iPad, Android, and Kindle Fire, add annotations, and link evidence to students, EHCP outcomes, IEP targets, and more. When used together with Connecting Steps, evidence can be linked to specific skills and viewed within the assessment system. Parent sharing is a highlight: schools can control parent access, comments, and permissions to upload evidence.

Pricing, Deployment, and Security

The website does not disclose specific pricing, subscription models, payment methods, or contract terms. It only mentions that England has 15 assessment packages covering 7 frameworks, and that schools can book a free online meeting or demo. Deployment details are not clearly stated, though the products support tablet and mobile app usage. On security, Evisense emphasizes control mechanisms to ensure evidence is only accessed by appropriate people, but it does not provide specific compliance certifications such as GDPR or ISO.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

Its main strength is its highly focused SEND assessment use case: it connects curriculum frameworks, progress tracking, learning evidence, and home-school communication in one workflow. It is well suited to UK special schools, SEND departments in mainstream schools, and teacher teams that need to demonstrate ongoing student progress. The main drawback is incomplete disclosure: pricing, APIs, third-party integrations, self-hosting, and detailed compliance information are not explained. Its content is also tightly tied to the UK curriculum system, so schools in China or outside the UK would need to reassess fit carefully.

Access from China and Alternatives

The website does not provide information about access, payment, or localization for mainland China, so its accessibility status is unknown. For use in China, schools should consider network connectivity, the English-language interface, fit with UK curriculum frameworks, and cross-border data compliance. Alternative options include Evidence for Learning, Earwig Academic, Seesaw, and Tapestry, or domestic platforms for school-based assessment, special education management, and home-school communication.