# The paint-box helper · staff case

## Eligibility and exposure

Show the complete matched source only when beginning this case. If the child has already seen its staff worked answers, practised it, or received answer-level help, record that exposure and use it as supported/formative teaching rather than an independent first response. Later is a new source, not an automatic progress test.

## Help and actual evidence

Adult reading of the full source, usual communication, larger print, breaks, pointing and exact dictation are allowed; record which. Do not supply a component’s worked answer or criterion before a genuine first response. Reading aloud means this case cannot by itself demonstrate independent decoding; adult pen work cannot demonstrate handwriting.

## Complete neutral source

This is a complete fictional source for a small helper job. A pretend art table has a shallow blue tray and a tall cardboard box. A new helper needs to carry paper picture cards to the story mat. The supplied helper answer says, ‘I choose the shallow blue tray because I can see the cards.’ This answer was supplied for the task; no real person was interviewed. Yesterday, Lee wrote the answer on a card. Tomorrow, Lee plans to add a tray label. The label has not been made. A drawing description shows a tray with visible paper cards and a separate blank label card. Nothing in the source says which container is strongest or waterproof. A question should help this helper decide about the card-carrying job. A message can report the supplied answer and separately offer a new idea.

## A-first-Q1

### Invitation

Write or say one question that helps this helper choose a container for the paper cards.

### Component criterion

A question names a usable focus or choice connected to carrying these cards; a broad unrelated question is not enough.

### Staff example after an attempt

‘Would the shallow tray or the tall box help you carry the paper cards?’ names the actual choice and the helper’s job.

### Judgement limit

Use this component-specific description with the actual response and recorded help. No point total, A–E level, diagnosis, causal gain or independent-exposure claim.

### Next teaching

N01 · AC9E3LY01, AC9E3LY02

## A-first-Q2

### Invitation

Report the helper’s supplied choice and reason in one or two sentences.

### Component criterion

Report keeps the shallow blue tray and seeing the cards as the supplied reason, without inventing a property.

### Staff example after an attempt

‘The helper chose the shallow blue tray because they can see the cards.’ keeps both stated parts. It does not claim the tray is strongest.

### Judgement limit

Use this component-specific description with the actual response and recorded help. No point total, A–E level, diagnosis, causal gain or independent-exposure claim.

### Next teaching

N02 · AC9E3LY05, AC9E3LY06

## A-first-Q3

### Invitation

Explain whether Lee has already made the tray label. Point to the words that help.

### Component criterion

Recognises the label as an uncompleted future plan and uses ‘Tomorrow’, ‘plans’ or ‘has not been made’ for support.

### Staff example after an attempt

The label has not been made. ‘Tomorrow, Lee plans’ describes a future intention, not a completed job.

### Judgement limit

Use this component-specific description with the actual response and recorded help. No point total, A–E level, diagnosis, causal gain or independent-exposure claim.

### Next teaching

N03 · AC9E3LA08, AC9E3LY05

## A-first-Q4

### Invitation

Add one new suggestion and show with words that it is your suggestion, not the helper’s answer.

### Component criterion

Uses a signalled new proposal consistent with the job; does not attribute it to the helper.

### Staff example after an attempt

‘I suggest trying a large label.’ is a new idea. The helper’s supplied answer only chose the tray and gave the seeing reason.

### Judgement limit

Use this component-specific description with the actual response and recorded help. No point total, A–E level, diagnosis, causal gain or independent-exposure claim.

### Next teaching

N04 · AC9E3LA02, AC9E3LY06