Reception classifications

[whatthejuice]

Hi everyone,
I've just had a parents evening at school. My little is in reception - he got "working at" on 4 of the criteria and "working towards" on two sections.
Can I ask whether there are any other classifications or it's just these two?

Exceeding

My school also uses Exceeding and Working Below

Perhaps someone in the know could confirm, but I have a feeling I read that the "exceeding" has been rescinded (not used) ever since around about covid for lower age group / cohorts.

Working towards means they haven't quite got it yet, working at is the expected level and then there is exceeding.

Thank you - and are these for where they are right now and judged against where they should be by end of school year?
I ran out of time to ask questions by end of the session!

As of this year we aren't using exceeding for many things now. It's been taken off our tracker software if I remember rightly.

Thank you everyone.
When you get a working towards or whatever classification is that judged against where they want your child to be by the end of the year?

They're not judging anything at that age they are just giving you an indication of where they are. A September born is likely (not necessarily!) further ahead than an august born for example.

I'm a teacher and if I told a parent their child was 'working towards', I would mean that they have not quite grasped what has been taught so far and they are likely to still be 'working towards' at the end of the year. Try not to worry though as I have taught many children who struggled at the start of the year and things started to click after Easter/interventions were successful and they finished the year at the expected standard. Ask the teacher how your child will be supported at school and how you can help at home to narrow the gap.

I believe that the 'working above/exceeding' category was dropped for last year's Reception cohort onwards. I wouldn't be surprised if some schools still use it, but certainly my DD's school don't. They do use it in Year 1 and above though.

My Y1 DS got all “met expectations” in reception last year and we were told that’s as high as they were given. We know the year above (so current Y2) could get “exceeding” because some parents got pretty uptight about it.

I think it was too go with the early learning goals changing and being less off them and slightly less “tickbox” style.

You will have to ask the teacher is working towards/at means where they should be now, or where they should be by the end of the year.
Every school does it differently.

So if I recall correctly, 'exceeding' or 'greater depth' has now been removed for EYFS.

Also have a reception child and had parents' evening this afternoon; there were two categories on his report, 'emerging' and 'expected'. 'Emerging' is the same as 'Working towards' so not quite at age-related expectations. Was told DC had reached expected already, so presume they are what they are currently at.... Though also have a year 2 (which also include 'greater depth') and theirs were predicted for where they would be by the end of the year.