The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework 2023 outlines the requirements for the assessment of children from birth to five. The framework is clear that assessment needs to be carried out in a way that minimises the time that the adult is taken away from the child since we know children learn best through positive and sensitive interactions with adults. Assessment should provide us with a broad and balanced view of what a child can achieve, carried out as part of a conversation between practitioners, the family, and the child.
Once you have established a curriculum based on progression that is attainable for all, then an assessment can be made against the curriculum that is being provided. If we consider assessment as a tick list of 'this is what we want children to achieve' we potentially miss understanding a huge amount of information about a child. Assessment should not be used as a race to move children on to the next point as fast as possible, instead, assessment should be used to identify what a child can and cannot do, what learning they have embedded, and what they need more support to achieve.
Providers must develop effective and appropriate methods of communication to keep parents and/or carers informed of their child’s progress.
As well as an essential tool for identifying children’s development and needs, assessment can be used in the wider context. Assessment of children’s engagement and progress can be used to identify areas for development within the provision, including the organisation of a setting, curriculum, and the effectiveness of the resources provided.
Progress check at age two
Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) to provide support for early years practitioners when completing the EYFS progress check at age two.
EYFS profile handbook
The DfE's early years foundation stage profile handbook supports EYFS practitioners in making accurate judgements about each child's attainment.
EYFS profile - 2023 data pack
The data pack below has been put together to provide an overview of Cambridgeshire County data for the reception year for EYFS children. We hope all early years providers will be able to use this pack to help inform practice. We have included some questions as prompts in relating the data to your setting or school. By looking at the county data, you can compare how your children are doing in the EYFS.
Reception Baseline Assessment
There is guidance and information on the 2023 reception baseline assessment: assessment and reporting arrangements on the government website as well as in Annex B of the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage for group and school-based providers.*
*[Size: 483KB File format: pdf]
