Changes to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Targets

The Daily Telegraph reported a couple of days ago that the long awaited review in to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) led by Dame Clare Tickell will call for a significant reduction in the number of targets children under the age of five are expected to meet. Sparked by concerns that the system is stifling the natural development of young children, it is thought that the review will suggest that children be measured against just 17 criteria rather than the 69 currently used. These reduced targets will focus on small number of core skills, such as speaking and listening skills, basic literacy and social interaction.

The report will apparently criticise the level of bureaucracy that early years practitioners are currently exposed to and suggest that it detracts from the essential task of improving children’s early development and identifying those who are struggling. The change in focus is designed to address concerns that a significant proportion of pupils start compulsory education without the basic social, communication and language skills needed to be successful in school.

The report will certainly make for interesting reading, particularly when set against the backdrop of the Impact of the Early Years Foundation Stage Survey which was published recently and which gave a rather positive assessment of the impact of the EYFS since its introduction in 2008. You can find a brief overview of this survey on our blog.

Anyway, the full report will be published soon and we will try to keep you posted about its key findings and recommendations. In the meantime here’s a quick video of Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather discussing the purpose and scope of the review back in July 2010