Defending Child Centred Practice in the Reception Year – we need your help!

Although the recent Ofsted "Bold Beginnings" report (Nov 2017: 170045) identifies some good practice which is fully compatible with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), it also makes some contentious recommendations which are unsupported by child development and research evidence. It contains an underlying agenda of downward pressure from KS1 to narrow the early years curriculum and implicitly praises schools that have based their literacy and maths curriculum in the reception year on National Curriculum expectations for Year 1. 

To counterbalance this approach the Sheffield Branch of Early Education is undertaking to gather data to find schools with Reception Classes who are maintaining the momentum of children’s progress year on year using a play-based philosophy which includes balancing child-led play and activities with adult-focused teaching (EYFS 1.8); the Characteristics of Effective Learning (EYFS 1.9), Continuous Provision indoors and outdoors, and keeping the Prime Areas of Learning at the heart of teaching. 

We are focusing on data which is required as part of the usual evidence of children’s progress and achievement at the end of the Foundation Stage and into KS1. It is also the data that Ofsted (and other bodies) will use to monitor impact in their inspections. 

There are a few questions to complete but they are all based on your FSP Data and some data from KS1. This will enable us to see a year on year picture and show the ongoing, longer term effect of high quality teaching on children’s development and learning. 

Your time and contribution to the survey will build a broader more informed picture of the impact of the EYFS and the Reception Year. 

Some help before you start: 

- You will need to have your data headlines for the last 3 years – 2015, 2016, 2017 
- Data includes the Good Level of Development (GLD), Average Progress, Age Related Expectations and Early Learning Goals (ELGs) 
- The Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) quintile for your school 
- Data for the phonics screening 
- Data for reading, writing and maths in KS1 

Important Tip: 

To avoid losing your response as you work though the survey (and to keep your own copy) it would be a good idea to initially save your answers on a word document and then cut and paste into the survey. 

The Survey will close Monday April 16th 2018 

Many thanks for agreeing to take part in the survey 

The Sheffield Branch of Early Education

How your data will be used
1.  Your contact data and the data you provide about your school will be used by the Sheffield Branch of Early Education to inform this piece of research.  The researchers may use your contact data for any follow up questions.  Schools will not be identified in the final report unless consent has been obtained to do so.  The data will not be used for any other purposes. 
2.  Early Education, as a national organisation, would like to keep in touch with schools regarding our activities and in particular our campaigning in relation to the Reception Year.  Please tick the box below if you would like to be included on our mailing lists, and we will send you details of how to choose what communications you would like to receive from us.  If you do not tick the box we will not add you to any of our mailing lists.

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* 1. Name of School:

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* 2. Contact at School:

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* 3. Contact email:

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* 4. Opt in to Early Education mailing lists about our campaigns, training, publications, membership, etc

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* 5. Name of Foundation Stage Lead:

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* 6. How many reception classes?

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* 7. Do you have a Nursery?

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* 8. Were you good/outstanding for overall effectiveness at your last Ofsted inspection?

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* 9. Was the Early Years Foundation Stage Good/Outstanding at your last Ofsted inspection?

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* 10. In which IDACI (income deprivation affecting children index) quintile is your school?

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17

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* 11. What percentage of children were at age-related expectations (ARE) on entry to the Reception Year? (Entering 40-60 mths) Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 12. What percentage of children were achieving a good level of development (GLD) in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)? Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 13. What was your average total point score?

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* 14. What was your percentage inequality gap? (Reducing inequality for the lowest 20%)  Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 15. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Listening and attention  Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 16. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Understanding Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 17. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Speaking Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 18. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Self Confidence and self-awareness Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 19. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Managing feelings and behaviour Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 20. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Making relationships Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 21. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Reading Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 22. What percentage of children achieved  Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Writing Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 23. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Numbers Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 24. What percentage of children achieved Early Learning Goals (Expected/Exceeding): Shape, space and measures Please enter a number between 1-100 without a percentage sign

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* 25. Please could you give 5 points outlining the key strategies that have contributed to the children’s progress?

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* 26. Please tell us how children’s progress across the curriculum has been maintained in Year 1 and Year 2?

The following questions are from the Bold Beginnings Ofsted Thematic Survey and focus on children’s attainment in Key Stage 1

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* 27. What percentage of your children are achieving the phonics expected standard in the phonics screening check at least equal to national average?

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* 28. Any comments regarding question 26?

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* 29. What percentage of your children are achieving the expected standard at key stage 1 in reading, writing and mathematics at least equal to national average?

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* 30. Any comments regarding question 28?

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* 31. What is the percentage of disadvantaged pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at key stage 1 at least equal to national average for non-disadvantaged?

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* 32. Any comments regarding question 30?

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* 33. What is the percentage of disadvantaged pupils (FSM/EYPP) working at greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics at key stage 1 at least equal to national average for non-disadvantaged?

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* 34. Any comments regarding question 32?

Many thanks for completing this questionnaire and sharing your information

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