The results show that 33 per cent of children in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas were found to be working securely within the Early Learning Goals, a drop from 37 per cent in 2005.
For children in other areas the figure was 50 per cent and 54 per cent in 2005.
Children are assessed on a nine-point scale by practitioners' observations at the end of the reception year. A score of six or more indicates that they are working securely within the Early Learning Goal.
The number of children working securely within the ELGs dropped for a second year (News, 2 November 2006).
In 2004, the Government set a target that 53 per cent of children reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage and to reduce the inequality gap from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.
Download the results at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.
