Assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage

All children in the early years phase receive a joint health and educational assessment between the ages of 24 and 36 months (two-year-old progress check.) This is carried out by pre-school practitioners and health visitors, in discussion with parents. 

Recording progress

Early years practitioners often use learning journals (sometimes called play diaries, All about Me books, I can books) to record and monitor progress. These books include dated photographs, observation notes and quotes, and form a valuable record of the child’s early learning and development.

These books can be useful when describing a child with additional needs to a professional. They also support transition by providing a detailed picture of learning and development.

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile

At the end of the reception year all children are assessed using the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (pdf), which looks at each child across seven areas of learning and development. There is additional information on the Department for Education website. 

Assessing disabled children

Special educational needs and disabilities are very diverse and pupils demonstrate their learning and development in different ways. It may be useful to also introduce more detailed assessments which focus on communication, physical development and emotional development. These are useful if information is needed to support a diagnosis, a funding process or to identify what intervention may be needed and how well it is working.

This practice has been extended from the early years across all phases of school, through Early Support which also offers resources and training opportunities for schools and families.