Changes to early years goals and Profile planned

The moves are included in the formal response to the 12-week review of primary assessment in England, which was published yesterday.

The Department for Education said that the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile would be retained but will be improved, including a review of supporting guidance, to cut teacher workload.

The DfE said that it would be looking at the feasibility of reducing the number of Early Learning Goals (ELGs) that are assessed, and limiting this to the three prime areas (communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development) and the specific areas of mathematics and literacy.

It added, 'This could potentially reduce the assessment burden and ensure that we are
focusing on those areas that have the strongest correlation with future attainment, whilst retaining the breadth of the EYFS curriculum. In light of the consultation feedback, we recognise that this is a sensitive issue, and therefore we will conduct further analysis, working with our stakeholders and our advisory panel in securing the right approach to take forward.’

The reponse also said the the ELGs would be revised and the descriptors made clearer, although the seven areas of learning and the number of ELGs underpinning the framework would remain the same.  ‘The ELGs in need of the most significant revisions’ were those relating to communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development; and mathematics and literacy.

It said that the communication and language ELGs would be revised ‘to ensure that there is
sufficient focus on increasing depth and breadth of vocabulary’.