PIVATS is an assessment programme used nationally to measure pupil progress through the 'P' Scales and up to National Curriculum Level 4. As well as its use throughout the UK PIVATS is now being adopted by Local Authorities and District School boards across Canada, Australia, South Africa and other parts of the world.

Raising standards of achievement and developing a more inclusive education system are cornerstones of government policy that apply to all pupils.

The target setting for pupils with special educational needs or those who may be underachieving should be regarded as a strategy in the process of raising attainment and assisting individual pupils to make progress in curricular areas, including personal and social development. The Progression Guidance 2009-10 published by the DCSF stresses the need for challenging targets. PIVATS offers the mechanism to achieve this.