![Catherine McLeod chief executive, Dingley's Promise](/media/mtdnefdc/20220817_150342.jpg?width=1002&height=668&bgcolor=White&v=1da61304469f490)
Sometimes a change is undeniably great but the consequences of it are not. This is what has happened with the changes made to the EYFS in September 2021.
The move away from rigid tracking of child development allows practitioners to focus more of their time on really knowing their children. However, it is unclear what this means for children with SEND. In order to access funding and support for them, there continues to be a focus on demonstrating development and tracking progress – contradicting the changes. Many settings say that without this tracking data they cannot access local authority funding.
When asked for more clarity on how the new EYFS impacts children with SEND, the Government re-released the Pen Green document ‘The Celebratory Approach’, which focuses practitioners straight back on previous tracking models. While movement away from a deficit model is a good thing, the document focuses back on tracking of children with SEND and the use of the old ‘ages and stages’ structures that were supposed to have been left behind.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here