Welcome to

1. Welcome to An Overview of Assessment and Observation in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Wednesday 14th September 2010 Presented by EYFS Coordinator: Claire Cowlishaw

2. What is the Early Years Foundation Stage? The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to 5 years (end of the child’s reception year) which is supported by the EYFS document, a single quality framework to support children’s learning and development. The framework recognises that there is a developmental continuum for children and this is reflected in the development and learning grids. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.

4. An overview of observational assessment in the context of the EYFS A Unique Child Babies and young children are individuals first, with unique profiles of abilities. Schedules and routines flow with the child’s needs. All planning starts with observing children in order to understand and consider their current interests, development and learning. Positive Relationships Adults bring their own perspectives to an observation. Family circumstances and cultural contexts need to be considered in making assessments, particularly in Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Enabling Environments When planning, staff must remember that children learn just as much from unplanned natural events, such as a fall of snow. Learning and Development This covers all themes of EYFS: If children do not communicate freely with staff, they may need to ‘think outside the box’ rather than make assumptions.

5. How Do We Assess? We observe the children. All adults in the classroom complete observations of any significant learning for any children. This means that every child has a consistent range of observational evidence covering all 6 learning areas over each half term. Where appropriate photographs are included. Each child will have an Individual Development File (the blue file) and their observations and other evidence of development will be collated in this. This will be developed over their entire time in BSB EYFS, passed up to the following teacher at the end of each year, from crèche – preschool – reception. At the end of the reception year the contents of this file will be sent home to parents. We also highlight the statements completed from the 6 areas of learning as well as completing a grid to ensure broad coverage, detailing exactly which statements the child has reached. This information will be kept in the blue file and can be shared with parents at parents evenings but will be passed on to the Year 1 teacher following the reception year.

8. The Individual Development File and Observations There is no set style for the observations carried out by the teachers. They may be typed, written or just through photographs. Each observation may be in a different style due to the timing and situation of the observation, and each teacher will have their own style and methods of writing up observations. Therefore the children's files will not all appear the same and different styles of observation will be seen throughout the file as it is passed from one year group to the next. One style that will be used is the EYFS Observation Sheet that all staff in EYFS Pipera will use for the majority of their observations from this year, however some observation write ups may still differ depending on the contents.

9. BSB Early Years Foundation Stage Observation

10. What do we learn from observations? As we complete observations we are seeing the children’s areas of interest and can then plan possible lines of development for the next week. Ongoing observation of children participating in everyday activities is the most reliable way of building up an accurate picture of what children know, understand, feel, are interested in and can do.

11. Using observations and assessment for Monitoring Progress Each of the 6 areas of learning has its own set of Early Learning Goals’ which determine what most children are expected to achieve by the endof Reception Class. The EYFS Profile is a summative assessment of each child’s progress towards the early learning goals. The profile is updated regularly throughout each year of EYFS. It shows your child’s development and areas for further support.

12. EYFS Profile So what is the actual EYFS Profile? • The EYFS Profile is a way of summing up a child’s progress at the end of the Foundation Stage. • It is a statutory assessment method. • It is based on the teachers ongoing assessments and observations on all six areas on learning. • Each child’s typical developments will be recorded on 13 assessments scales.

13. The 13 Assessment Scales PSE – Dispositions and Attitudes PSE – Social Development PSE – Emotional Development CLL – Language for Communication and Thinking CLL – Linking Sounds and Letters CLL – Reading CLL – Writing PSRN – Numbers as Labels for Counting PSRN – Calculating PSRN – Shape, Space and Measures Knowledge and Understanding of the World Creative Development Physical Development

14. Scoring on the Scales In each of the 13 assessment scales children can score up to 9 points. Points 1-3 indicate a child who is still working towards the Early Learning Goals. Points 4-8 indicate a child who is working within the Early Learning Goals. Point 9 indicates a child who is working beyond the Early Learning Goals and is VERY difficult to achieve.

15. During the Reception year, information from the children’s blue files, from observations and assessments will all be considered and the children's EYFS profiles will be completed by the class teacher. This profile is an ongoing document and is to give a clear and correct account of each child’s progress. These files are for use by the Year 1 teachers when the children move up from EYFS. However, a copy will be sent home to parents. A few points to consider! It is not advisable to compare your child’s profile with that of others. Every child is an individual and develops at their own rate! The scores are nothing to worry about, they do not stay with your child. If you are concerned about your child’s scores or do not understand the profile, you will be able to discuss this with the class teacher at a parent/teacher meeting after the profiles have been sent out.

16. Websites and other Info The EYFS document can be downloaded from www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs It can also be ordered from www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications Or from DCSF publications quoting ref: 00261-2008PCK-EN Telephone: 0044845 60 222 60 Email: dcsf@prolog.uk.com