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What’s the focus?
The consultation has focused on 3 main areas: Learning and Development; Assessment; and Welfare.
Learning and Development: The things that jump out at me include the following …
There’s quite a bit about school ‘readiness’ … which all seems a little too subjective.
Is the Reception year part of the EYFS or not? This is not at all clear.
Whereas the current framework is quite specific about ages and stages, there are phrases like ‘the older age range’ that is all a bit vague (although that may be a good thing … there was a danger of getting really hung up about ages and stages).
Obviously the big change is in the number of learning goals and the emphasis shifting to the prime areas (PSE, Physical Development, and Communication and Language).
Those working with the Under 3s … it’s not really clear what their responsibilities are in the area of learning and development … well that’s how it came across to me. A bit puzzling.
Assessment
Paperwork … paperwork – formative (ongoing) assessment and how to keep it both manageable and useful. That’s what we at QEd Publications try and do.
Early identification of special educational needs and support is highlighted.
With regard to monitoring the progress children are making, what do you think about the use of terms like ‘emerging’, ‘expected’ and ‘exceeding’?
For those of you working with children under 3, you will be expected to provide a written summary of sorts of each child’s development for parents/carers.
Safeguarding and Welfare
There’s a fair amount about qualifications and staff training although not as much emphasis as there was in the Tickell review … is that a good or a bad thing?
I must confess, I glossed over a lot of this as my interest is more in the learning and development and assessment side of things.
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