Can anyone explain EYFS assessments to me please?

[MelvinThePenguin]

I've just received EYFS assessments for my two DDs.

The youngest is 14 months old. All her 'scores' (I'm sure there is a better word, but I'm not sure what it is) are for the 8-20 month age range and she has 6 'emergings', 12 'expecteds' and 5 'exceedings'.

While I'm not hanging much on this at all and am in no way worried about her development, I did wonder about the huge developmental range between 8-20 months. Where might one expect a 14 month old to sit within the 'scoring' range?

My eldest is 38 months yes yes, I know she's 3, but EYFS seems to be all about the months. 22 of her factors are assessed against 30-50 months, with 4 'emergings' and the rest 'expected'. The other 2 are assessed against 40-60 months and are both 'emerging'. Why has she been assessed against an age range above her own?

They're both high/extremely high on the Leuven scale, so I'm guessing the staff think they're as happy and engaged at nursery as I do. That's all that really matters to me at this age.

Some advice to help with my curiosity would be much appreciated though!

There are overlaps in each age range, and some children will be above or below their age range.

You'd expect a 14 month old to be somewhere in the 8-20 month range (children all develop at different rates). A 14 month old who is 'advanced' in some area might be assessed in 16-26 months. A 14 month old with some developmental delays might be in the 0-11 month range.

The two areas in which your 3 year old is emerging into the 40-60 month range just means her development in those areas is slightly above that of a typical child her age.

I've never come across the Leuven scale before. The 3 nurseries we have used haven't reported it for my DDs. That's quite interesting.

Are the ones that are noted on the higher age range related to things that have been mastered at the lower age range?

Thank you, that makes sense.

It's all very alien. I think I'd have guessed very differently if asked where I thought they were developmentally. A mixture of for worse and for better, probably with a similar spread of 'scores' but against very different factors!

I think so Panda.

One of her 40-60s is against 'expressive arts'. I mean, she dances like she's on Strictly, but she can't draw for toffee!

I am probably interpreting these factors all very badly.

If she's only emerging in that area then she doesn't have to be doing everything. "Beginning to build a repertoire of songs and dances" would be enough.

Got it. Her repertoire of songs and dances is pretty annoying extensive.

There are huge overlaps in the developmental stages and some of the statements are so random. It’s only meant to be a guide anyway, I really wouldn’t worry about it at this stage. Of the children who have just left my setting to go to school, the children have ranged in their development from 30-50 to 40-60 with some not yet being 4. It’s useful for identifying developmental delays and possible SEND, but other than that it can sometimes feel like a bit of a tick box exercise. If a child is not toilet trained by 3, they can end up in the 8-20 bracket but then they might suddenly grasp it and make a huge jump. If they are able to do everything in their corresponding age band, they will move up one. I personally dislike them as it’s generally obvious to a practitioner who has a good knowledge of child development and knows the children in their care well if there is a significant delay or exceptional ability in a certain area. It’s more about documentation to show progress and highlight any areas of need.

Thanks IGiorni. Your post has confirmed my thoughts. I'm not at all worried, I just like to understand things properly!

What is the difference between an "exceeding" in the child's own age bracket and "emerging" in an age bracket above?

Those are terms specific to your nursery, they're not in the curriculum or used generally (usually only for the final goals at the end of Reception) - for example my county uses 'working within' and 'secure', I have seen other settings use emerging/developing/secure. Your nursery should be able to explain why they chose those terms and how they use them.

Both your children sound on track and your 3 year old being slightly above what's expected.

Exceeding in one area, rather than emerging in the next, just means they have spent this term ensuring that your child is secure in this age bracket and they haven't started assessing the next age bracket yet. They will move on next term. From what you've said everything seems fine.

Have a Google at 'Development Matters' this is what we use in our Pre School to track our children.
We use iconnect, an online 'learning journal/tracker', this uses emerging, expected, exceeding.