The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has sent out leaflets to tell teachers and practitioners what to expect when baseline assessment ends on 31 August. It is being replaced by the Foundation Stage profile, a national scheme to be based on practitioners' ongoing observations and assessments over all six areas of learning set out in the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.
Instead of being assessed during their first seven weeks in reception, each child's typical development and achievements will be recorded on assessment scales derived from the stepping stones and Early Learning Goals. These profiles will be used to inform parents and Year One teachers about each child's progress and learning needs.
A 'final trial' of the assessment scheme is to take place in June in a number of schools across England, and the trial materials will be made available on the QCA website around the same time.
The leaflet says that from September, 'schools and other settings will be free to decide whether, where and when they need to make entry assessments'
and that there will be 'no statutory requirement' to carry out baseline assessment. However, it points out that there will be a one-term gap before the schools receive the Foundation Stage profile materials to be used for the first children to complete it by the end of the reception year in June 2003.
Irene Pilia, deputy chief executive of the National Early Years Network, said, 'We are all in favour of the Foundation Stage profile but the lead-in and changeover is going to make things difficult for children. We hope it isn't delayed beyond January, because that would add to school stresses.'
The new scheme was unveiled last autumn by early years minister Catherine Ashton (News, 20 September). The QCA website is at www.qca.org.uk.
