New EYFS: is there an 'average' level of attainment?

[Iamnotminterested]

It's now graded as emergent, expected and exceeding for I think 17 areas. Do these grades equate to some kind of point system? Not had a reception child for a while, let alone one under the new system!! Thanks.

[mrz]

emergent = 1 point
expected = 2 point
exceeding = 3 points

The new thing is GLD (Good Level of Development)

From 2013, children will be defined as having reached a good level of development at the end of the EYFS if they achieve at least the expected level in:

the early learning goals in the prime areas of learning (personal, social and emotional development; physical development; and communication and language) and;
the early learning goals in the specific areas of mathematics and literacy.

[Iamnotminterested]

So a maximum of 51 points then?

[Scruffey]

Do schools tell you this at the end of yr R? My dd about to finish yr R

[Iamnotminterested]

Mine just has. At least they quantify everything now rather than the 'minimint can throw a bean-bag and enjoys circle time' waffle.

[mrz]

For children in the Reception Year, providers should report:

? brief particulars of attainment in all areas of learning;
? comments on general progress including the characteristics of effective learning; and
? arrangements for discussing the report.

For children at the end of Reception Year, parents should receive a written summary reporting attainment against the ELGs.

[Wigeon]

We just had parents' evening for my Reception DD. They provided exactly what mrz says in her post above. It seemed very thorough (but much more sensible than what DD's teacher said the previous system used to be, with her having to score each child on something like 170 different statements of ability!).

We were shown whether DD was scored as emerging, expected or exceeding for each of the 17 areas. Page 24 onwards of the EYFS Handbook seems to give specific examples of what children are expected to have achieved in each of the 17 areas.

[mrz]

There were 127 points in the old system, there are now 17. The problem is that nearly all of the old 127 points have been incorporated into the new making them unwieldy

[intheshed]

We got DD's report last week and yes, everything is measured as either emerging, expected or exceeding. Personally, that is enough information for me, as well as the lovely comments from the class teacher. I don't see why you would care about 'points' at this age?!

[Iamnotminterested]

I'm simply asking under this new system how many = average.
Average is fine by me.

[mrz]

There isn't an "average" because this is the first year the assessment has been used so there is no data yet

[Periwinkle007]

I suppose they would hope that the average would be 34 as that would be expected in everything and it sounds difficult and therefore unlikely many will get much more than that but I suppose there will be some who are emerging so would lower average down to probably high 20s? pure guesswork, not a teacher and we haven't had report yet for DD.

[intheshed]

I would imagine 'expected' is average? As in, they are at the expected level for the end of reception?

[Iamnotminterested]

Yes, that makes sense ladies, thanks.

[Periwinkle007]

well that is sort of what I was thinking intheshed but I have a feeling from what has been said that now they have made it harder to meet the levels then the average might be a bit below that

[mrz]

The pilot of the new profile showed on 40% reached the GLD with a score of 32. So I would imagine the average will be lower.

[mrz]

Which suggests average will be considerably lower.

[hopingforbest]

A new marking system which makes the majority feel as if they are failing. Lovely.

[mrz]

Why would a child be aware of their level?

[Iamnotminterested]

Mine certainly won't, why would any parent share technicalities and emerging/expected/exceeding/ points etc with a four or five year old?

I have shared her teachers' general comments with her though and she's delighted that her lego structures were highlighted as being particularly good

[averywoomummy]

very interesting as I am about to get reception report.

I read through what they expect at EYFS and some of it does actually seem quite hard especially for the younger children in the class.

Surely the fact that only 40% are actually meeting expectations means that the expectations are perhaps set too high? You would have thought that in any grading system it should be the majority who meet expectation and then a divided minority who are either exceeding or emergent i.e. roughly 60% meet, 20% exceed and 20% emergent?

[Elibean]

Possibly, the new system will help certain Government ministers adjust their ideas...I can hope, eh?!

[mrz]

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/190639/DFE-RR291.pdf

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/article/1176629/eyfs-profile-pilot-shows-four-ten-children-reach-a-good-level-development?preferredformat=mobile&preferredformat=mobile&preferredformat=mobile

[Iamnotminterested]

So 32 points is average. But if only 41% of children are hitting the 'GLD' has the bar been raised too high for a lot of children?

[mrz]

No 32 points is a Good Level of Development NOT average

[Iamnotminterested]

Ok.