The Primary English Encyclopedia: The Heart of the Curriculum, Third Edition
See also assessment, Foundation Stage, SATs
This profile is a summing up of a child’s progress and learning needs at the end of the Foundation Stage, that is when he or she is about six years old. There are no imposed tests, tasks or activities to carry out. The profile is based on teacher observation and assessment in the six areas of learning set out in Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. The teacher keeps a record of each child’s development and achievement on assessment scales based on the stepping stones and the early learning goals.
Four weeks before the end of the summer term the teacher completes a profile summary (against 13 scales) for each child in the ‘scales booklet’. There is an electronic version of the scales booklet called eProfile.
If they wish, practitioners can use all or part of the completed profile as the basis for their annual report to parents.
For the purposes of national data collection, all the Foundation Stage profiles must be submitted to the LEA. This provides evidence for research into, for example, the pattern of children’s attainment over the six areas and the relative achievements of boys and girls. A government report on the Foundation Stage Profile shows that girls are achieving more highly in all six areas (DfES, 2006)
Foundation Stage Profile (2006) See electronic version of the report at: www.dfes.gov.uk.
Foundation Stage Profile Handbook London: QCA Publications, QCA/03/1006 (01787 884444).
Hutchin, Vicky (2003) Observing and Assessing for the Foundation Stage London: Hodder Arnold.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)/ Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) (2000) Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage London: QCA/DfEE Publications.
For news and more details visit the QCA website: www.qca.org.uk
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