Barnsley Early Start and Family Services

Statutory assessments

Assessments are an important part of helping parents, carers and practitioners recognise a child's progress, understand their needs, and plan activities and support.

There are two statutory assessment points in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): 

  • two year progress check

  • Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)
    This is the assessment at the end of the EYFS.

For more information

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Two year progress check

When a child is aged between two and three, practitioners must review their progress. Then provide parents or carers with a short written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas. This progress check needs to identify the child’s strengths and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected for their age.

You can use our two year progress check template together with the 2021 guidance for settings, the two year progress check toolkit and two year progress check flowchart to help you complete this assessment.

See an example of a completed two year progress check.

View the two year progress check briefing video.

Two year olds that should have an integrated review

  • Looked after children.
  • Two year olds for whom there are concerns about their development; they are below expected development milestones.
  • Those who have identified needs and other professional involvement, but whose needs are not being met.

Please indicate that contact from health is requested on the two year progress check template. If you don't receive a call within 10 days of emailing your two year progress check, you should call our 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service single point of access phone number.

If there are other professionals currently involved but the child's identified needs are not being met, an
integrated review meeting should be held. If there is already targeted support from professionals involved and the child's needs are being met, an integrated review isn't necessary.

If you're unsure and would like to discuss this further please email eyfsconsultants@barnsley.gov.uk

Useful documents

EYFSP

In the final term of the year in which the child reaches age five, and no later than 30 June in that term. The EYFS Profile must be completed for each child. This includes those children who, by exception, complete the EYFS in an Ofsted or childminder agency registered setting. Those who are due to start school in year 1 in the following academic year. (Statutory Framework; p19)

Each child must be assessed against each of the ELGs (early learning goals). These can be located in Section 1 of the Statutory Framework for the EYFS

The EYFSP provides parents, carers, practitioners and teachers with an all-round picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their progress against expected levels, and their readiness for Year 1.

The profile reflects ongoing observation and knowledge of the child. Discussions with parents and carers, and any other adults whom the teacher, parent or carer thinks can offer a useful contribution.

For more information please see the EYFS Profile handbook.

Our role

We must ensure that EYFS providers understand and follow the requirements set out in the EYFSP Handbook. Local authorities should:

  • provide advice on all aspects of assessment at EYFS
  • provide training, including on ‘agreement trialling’
  • ‘agreement trialling’ is the process of discussing assessment judgements in a group so that all practitioners understand the national exemplification of standards and apply them consistently
  • ensure schools have a secure electronic system to submit EYFS profile data
  • ensure all other EYFS providers have an appropriate means for accurately recording profile results, and submitting data to their LA if requested (see section 4.1)
  • collect EYFS profile data, and quality assure and submit it to DfE in the required format (Statutory Framework for EYFS; p20)