Assessment in EYFS (2)

• • • In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), both formative and summative assessments are used to track and understand children’s learning and development. Formative assessment is an ongoing process where teachers observe and interact with children as they learn.

      This helps teachers see what children know and can do in real-time, allowing them to adjust their teaching and support children’s learning day by day.

      Summative assessment, on the other hand, is done at key points, such as the end of a term or year, to give an overall picture of a child’s progress. It looks at what a child has achieved over a longer period.

      Both types of assessments work together: formative assessments help teachers make immediate changes in their teaching, while summative assessments provide a complete picture of a child’s development, helping with things like transitions to school.

      By using both, teachers can ensure that children are supported in the short term and also reach important milestones in their learning.

      Formative Assessment in EYFS

      Formative assessment is an ongoing part of teaching in EYFS, which helps educators understand how children are learning and developing.

      This type of assessment focuses on observing children in their daily activities and interactions.

      It’s about recognising what children know, understand, and can do, and using that information to inform planning and teaching to meet their individual needs.

      Teachers look at how children learn, not just what they learn.

      This continuous process builds a strong understanding of each child’s development, helping staff adjust their approach to support every child’s learning journey.

      Key aspects of formative assessment include:

      • Putting the child at the centre: It focuses on the child’s strengths and celebrates what they can do.
      • Building relationships: Teachers develop strong, trusting relationships with children and families, which helps guide the assessment process.
      • Good knowledge of child development: It requires educators to have a solid understanding of how children grow and learn.
      • Informs day-to-day practice: Formative assessments happen naturally through observations during play and interactions.

      Key Parts of Formative Assessment

      • Observations: Staff watch children and record key moments in their learning, either through notes, photos, or videos.
      • Learning Journals: These are records of children’s achievements, which include their artwork, observations, and updates from home.
      • Interaction and Engagement: Teachers engage children in conversation about their learning, using open-ended questions and encouraging self-reflection.

      How Formative Assessment Works
       

      • Daily Practice: Staff record important learning moments regularly and use quick methods, like sticky notes or digital tools, to capture observations.
      • Planning and Assessment Cycle: Teachers use observations to plan future activities and decide on the next steps for each child.
      • Parent Partnership: Teachers regularly share observations with parents, encouraging them to share insights from home, and collaborate on planning future learning steps.

      • Benefits of Formative Assessment

      • It helps teachers respond quickly to children’s needs.
      • Provides personalised learning opportunities.
      • Identifies challenges early on and involves parents in the process.
         

        Summative Assessment in EYFS

        Summative assessment is used to give an overall view of a child’s development at certain times, such as at the end of the school year.

        It gives a holistic picture of a child’s progress and development, summarising what the child has learned up until that point.

        Unlike formative assessment, which is ongoing, summative assessments happen at key moments in the child’s education.

        Key Parts of Summative Assessment

      • Progress Check at Age Two: This is a required assessment in England that looks at how children are developing in key areas between the ages of 2 and 3, shared with parents and health visitors.
      • EYFS Profile (End of Reception): At age 5, teachers assess children against 17 early learning goals, giving a snapshot of how they have developed across all areas of learning.
         

        How Summative Assessment Works

      • Data Collection: Teachers collect evidence from ongoing formative assessments and gather feedback from parents and staff to get a full view of a child’s development.
      • Making Judgements: Based on the evidence collected, teachers make decisions about the child’s learning and development, ensuring these are backed by clear, reliable data.
      • Reporting and Sharing: Teachers provide reports for parents and share the results with other professionals to support transitions and further learning opportunities.

      • Benefits of Summative Assessment

      • Helps teachers improve teaching methods and learning opportunities.
      • Provides clear information for parents and other professionals.
      • Supports transitions to the next educational setting or school.

      • It’s important to note that summative assessments should not be time-consuming and should be based on the ongoing formative assessments.

        They should provide a clear, holistic picture of the child’s development and learning journey, using insights from continuous assessment.
         

        How can teachers use summative test results to identify knowledge gaps

        Teachers can use summative test results to find out what students are struggling with in different ways:

      • Look at individual questions: Check how each student answered specific questions to see which skills or ideas they had trouble with.
      • Find patterns: See if many students had trouble with the same topic. This can show if something in the teaching needs to be improved.

      • By using these methods, teachers can understand what students need help with and make changes to their teaching to support them better.

      • Compare with learning goals: Check how students did on questions related to specific goals or topics to see what needs more attention.
      • Use overall scores: Look at scores like the Standard Age Score (SAS) to see how each student compares to national standards.
      • Check different types of questions: See which types of questions (like multiple choice or essays) were hardest for students, which might show areas to improve.
      • Compare with past results: Look at how students’ scores have changed over time to find out where they still need help.
      • Look at class-level results: Check the class or grade as a whole to see if there are bigger gaps in teaching or the curriculum.
      • Use special tools: Some tests give detailed breakdowns to show specific areas where students need more help.