How do you work out what developmental stage a child is at without using the eyfs as a checklist???

[NotInTheMood]

I am new to all this!!! If you have a child achieving most of the areas in the 30-50mth stage but not all where do you mark them??? Do you keep them in the 30-50th stage or if they are achieiving all areas apart from one for example except bladder/bowel control can you say they are at that the development age. I've just been looking at some paper work and my colleague has marked a child higher then I would of put them. Is it just based on judgement???

I would keep them as the lower age, but would note they showed elements of the next age group. EYFS helps to show next steps which need to be planned for. It is not a perfect measure, but it is a good guide.

How about if they haven't achieved all of one stage but are are actually achieving some of the higher stage. I am sure will get into the swing of things once I've finished this term :-/

I mark,it down as 24-30 (30-50) with the latter figure in red to show that they are achieving part of that target.

Nokidshere that's a good way to show it.

This is from the guidance our LEA send us to fill in the transitions for school ( I do work ina nursery but this should be helpful to anyone delivering the EYFS)

Completion of the Developmental Age Bands

Summary Judgement

"Development Matters might be used by Early Years settings throughout the EYFS as a guide to making best-fit judgements about whether a child is showing typical development for their age, may be at risk of delay or is ahead for their age. Summative assessment supports information sharing with parents, colleagues and other settings." Development Matters p.3

The definitions below may be used by practitioners to identify a "best fit" judgement for each child to enhance the quality of information sharing and progress indicators. To arrive at a summative judgement, it is advised that the practitioner should identify the main age/stage band evidenced by a child's learning and development in the relevant aspect, then consider the relevant degree of security within the selected band.

NB: There can be no definitive criteria for what might differentiate levels of security within an age band. The bands overlap because these are not fixed age boundaries, but suggest a typical range of development. Children develop at their own rates and in their own ways; therefore, a child may demonstrate some of the development statements in more than one age/stage band simultaneously.

Entering (E) starting to demonstrate some of the features of this age band
Developing (D) typically operating securely within this age band, although not necessarily consistent
Confident (C) typical behaviour which is thoroughly embedded
 

I like the idea of entering, developing and confident. Thanks