Nursery World - Ofsted's Reception report open to misinterpretation

Early Excellence, the training and resources organisation, shares its first thoughts on Ofsted's Bold Beginnings report, arguing that there is much more to Reception than reading, writing and maths

The Reception Year (YR) has increasingly become a contested phase of education, sitting awkwardly at both the end of the statutory EYFS; (where it is described in terms of establishing the ‘foundations’ for successful learning and development) and the beginning of ‘School’ (where it is conceived as ‘receiving’ children into the requirements of ‘Schooling’).

The statutory EYFS, and its preceding documents were built on evidence and research and have established a clear set of expectations and outcomes in order to ensure that YR provides the most effective and significant learning opportunities for children at this age. This is considered both in terms of content; through the Areas of Learning and Development, and the essential learning behaviours through the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Equally, it presents guidelines on the approach to the most effective delivery of appropriate pedagogy.

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