Transition and Observation, Assessment and Planning

Assessment at the end of the EYFS – The EYFS Profile

Early years foundation stage profile handbook - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The statutory EYFS framework requires the EYFS profile assessment to be carried out in the final term of the year in which a child reaches age 5. 

The EYFS profile is made up of an assessment of the child’s outcomes in relation to the 17 early learning goal (ELG) descriptors. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgement to make these assessments, based on their knowledge and understanding of what the child knows, understands, and can do. 

The main purpose of the profile assessment, at the end of the EYFS, is to support a successful transition to Key Stage 1, by informing the professional dialogue between EYFS and year 1 teachers.  

The EYFS profile is also used to inform parents about their child’s development. Children are defined as having reached a Good Level of Development (GLD) at the end of the EYFS if they have achieved at least the expected level for the ELGs in the prime areas of learning and the specific areas of mathematics and literacy. 

In addition, the EYFS profile provides a national child learning and development data set at the end of the EYFS. 

The EYFS profile is not an accountability measure for schools and the Department for Education (DfE), does not publish school level results for the EYFS profile. 

DfE published Early years foundation stage: exemplification materials (8th March 2022)

Submitting data remains a statutory requirement

• The EYFS profile must be completed for each child and submitted to the LA
• Information about how to submit EYFSP via SIMS / Other routes will be released to schools before the submission date.

EYFS Profile Meetings to Support Reception Teachers

Moderation activity is led by Bolton schools through the Early Education Improvement Group, with teachers in each cluster taking a lead to organise a meeting for Reception Teachers. 

The focus will be on 2 ELGs, and any other ELGs the groups raise. 

No written assessment information needs to be brought to any meeting. 

The meetings are informal discussions with peers to support the completion of the EYFSP. 

Practitioners are encouraged to make their own notes during the meetings, including themes or action points, urgent things to do and things to talk to SLT about. 

If you cannot attend your cluster date but would still like to take part, you are welcome to attend another meeting. Please refer to the list below and email the school office to let them know you would like to attend. 

Before the meeting look at the DfE guidance and support to help reception teachers and leaders complete the EYFSP this year: 

• The EYFSP handbook sets out the statutory requirements for the EYFSP assessment in the academic year.
• Exemplification materials and context note, are designed to show how practitioners draw on their knowledge of each child and their own expert professional judgement to make an accurate summative assessment at the end of the year.

Research pages on the Foundation Years webpages: Early Years Foundation Stage Profile - Foundation Years

• Completing the EYFS Profile for children remaining in EYFS provision - Foundation Year
• Completing the EYFS Profile for children with SEND
• Completing the EYFS Profile for children who transfer schools
• Exemptions from the EYFS learning and development requirements
• Writing in reception - helpful blog for reception teachers and senior leaders
• Vodcast for schools on the EYFS Profile – this includes common myths about the EYFSP 

EYFS Profile Meetings 2025 

Bolton EYFS Profile 2025 Data Submission

The Bolton EYFSP 2025 data submission is open from 16th to 27th June 2025.  

Guidance for the return of data is on the Schools Extranet under ‘School Management’, then in the ‘Statutory Returns’ folder.  

For any queries relating to making assessments or the EYFS profile please contact: startwellbookings@bolton.gov.uk  

For any queries relating to Data submission please contact: ec.imu@bolton.gov.uk