Leading figures in the early years sector responded more in sorrow than in anger to Ofsted's report criticising the Foundation Stage Profile, describing the document as unhelpful and its timing as unfortunate.
Supporters of the Foundation Stage and its assessment mechanism argue that the survey is based on a small sample when the profile was new and that many of the issues it raises are being addressed.
However, there is annoyance at the headline-grabbing press release publicising Transition from the Reception Year to Year One - an evaluation by HMI. The comment by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools David Bell that the profile 'is bureaucratic and time-consuming and fails to provide parents and teachers with the inform- ation they need,' was denounced as nonsense by its supporters. Mr Bell's call for the Department for Education and Skills and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to look at the report closely because 'in its current form the Foundation Stage Profile does not fit the bill' was seen as unwarranted.
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