Important Changes to the Foundation Stage Profile for 2007

There have been a number of recent changes to the Foundation Stage Profile.
Statements 5 and 6 in the Linking Sounds to Letters scale, within Communication, Language and Literacy have changed.

The wording for the following statements is
5. 'hears and says sounds in words'
6. 'blends sounds in words'

These changes have been made to reflect the findings of the Rose Review and the teaching of phonics and are aligned with the guidance in Letters and Sounds material. As with other statements within the profile practitioners are very strongly encouraged to use the handbook for further guidance on each individual statement.

The Foundation Stage Profile Handbook (Ref QCA/03/1006) has been amended to reflect the changes that may be located on pages 24 and 72. The updated handbook may be downloaded or you may request a copy directly from the QCA orderline, by telephone 01787 884444 or by emailing Lisa Battle. A copy will be forwarded to the school through the school post system. The handbook will not be reprinted after this current year but will continue to be a useful reference document for practitioners.

The individual pupil booklet (Ref QCA/07/3256) has been updated to take account of the changes to the above statements. The booklet, too is in the last year of print. From 2008 schools and settings will no longer be able to order copies.

Schools and settings are strongly encouraged by the local authority to use the e-profile, which may be downloaded from this site.

The e-profile needs to be linked to the school's/setting's management system. For most schools in Norfolk this is Phoenix. ICT solutions' website, contains instructions in the A-Z section under E for e-profile on how to import and export pupil information from Phoenix into the e-profile. Funded training for the e-profile and how to use the Foundation Stage Profile will be available in January 2008. Courses can be viewed on line through 'Training News' the training magazine for all Early Years training - (page 56).

The e-profile can be used throughout the year to give the headteacher/manager very useful information on attainment and progress through the Foundation Stage. At the end of the Foundation Stage individual pupil information will be useful to help the Year 1 teacher to pitch the learning at the optimum level.

The most recent version of e-profile is Version 2.5 which contains explanatory text for each statement including the amended statements 5 and 6 in Linking Sounds to Letters.

Assessment and Record-keeping Arrangements 2008 (Ref QCA/07/3115) booklet contains some updated information on the Foundation Stage Profile. See pages 10 - 16.

Further advice and guidance on good Early Years assessment practice may be found in Creating the Picture (Ref 00283-2007DWO-EN-01) which is available only from the DCSF website.

Schools and settings are reminded that the FSP or EYFS, as it will shortly be called, is the only statutory form of assessment within the Foundation Stage.
No supplementary assessments are required in addition to completing the FSP nor is there any expectation that they should take place.
Jan Dubiel, Principal Officer Foundation Stage Profile, wrote to all local authorities advising the following;

'When making a judgement for the FSP, practitioners should draw on at least 80% of evidence from knowledge of the child, observations and anecdotal assessment, and no more than 20% of evidence from adult directed or focussed assessments.'

'Judgements are made through assessing behaviour that is demonstrated consistently and independently in a range of situations. It will need to demonstrate the child's confidence and ownership of the specific knowledge, skill or concept being assessed.'

P scales are a measure for pupils with Special Educational Needs working within the National Curriculum. They are not intended to be used for pupils within the Foundation Stage.