Foundation Stage Profile data

Additional information

Letters from Ministers to local authorities and Chief Education Officers make the requirements for data analysis and use quite clear:

The Foundation Stage Profile employs a very light touch statutory moderation regime which refers LEAs to good practice in the practitioner Handbook rather than a prescriptive set of procedures set out in a Statutory Instrument.

I am aware of the concerns raised over data capture from the Foundation Stage Profile and the use of this data, and in taking on board these concerns have decided on the following approach:

Schools and Early Years settings will be put under a statutory obligation to send individual pupil level data to their LEA so that the LEA can produce aggregate data.

This data will be in respect of the 13 scales for the six areas of learning

DfES data needs will be met by asking LEAs to provide:

Overall LEA summary data not itemised by pupil

A representative sample of pupil level data for evaluation purposes.

Summary data in respect of pupils in Sure Start areas.

Comprehensive individual pupil level data will stop at the LEA level

There are no plans to produce school performance tables showing either Foundation Stage outcomes or Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 value added. As 2003 is a pilot year, data from this first year will be treated with caution. There are plans to publish national level data from the Profile via the Autumn Package website. Schools can use this data if they wish to compare their outcomes with the national picture.

The importance of assessing children's development and progress through skilful and well-planned observations is key to effective teaching in the Foundation Stage. The Foundation Stage Profile will ensure that every child leaves the Foundation Stage with their strengths acknowledged and celebrated and their needs and next steps in their learning clearly identified. I am confident that you will find it an excellent tool to use in planning how best to take forward children's learning.

This approach was re-stated in a recent letter to CEOs:

The Primary National Strategy is working with LEAs to identify how the Profile can be used more effectively to support children's transition to Key Stage 1. One of the main aims is to reduce teacher workload by ensuring the Profile is the sole form of assessment. We will ensure that the findings from these projects will inform local training and effective practice for the Foundation Stage Profile.

As you may know, in our 10 year strategy for childcare, "Choice for Parents, the best start for children", we have set out our plans to create a new 0-5 quality framework for children aged from birth to the end of the Foundation Stage curriculum. Alongside that development, we will continue to evaluate and review as necessary the Foundation Stage Profile.