EYFS: expectations of progress

There's no specific expectation of progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Find out how Ofsted judges progress and read our case study to find out how one 'outstanding' school demonstrates progress.

Last reviewed on 6 May 2022
School types: All · School phases: Nursery, Primary
Ref: 7609
Contents
  1. 3 statutory assessment requirements in the EYFS
  2. Otherwise, there's no specific expectation of progress
  3. The ‘good level of development’ (GLD) measure
  4. How Ofsted judges progress and attainment
  5. How one ‘outstanding’ school demonstrated rapid progress to Ofsted 

3 statutory assessment requirements in the EYFS

These are:

  • Progress check at age 2
  • Reception baseline assessment 
  • EYFS profile assessment 

Find out more about each of these in our other article.  

Otherwise, there's no specific expectation of progress

This applies to both reception and the EYFS as a whole. The DfE wants schools and other EYFS settings to make appropriate and high levels of progress across all 17 early learning goals (ELGs). However, it’s up to you to decide how to measure this internally. 

As well as the statutory assessments outlined above, you can use baseline assessments to support your own internal monitoring. A representative from the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) told us this. 

Any assessment or tracking that you do shouldn't require excessive paperwork or time away from interacting with pupils (EYFS statutory framework, paragraph 2.2). Find

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