This seminar will examine the next steps for early years education, developing the EYFS profile, assessment and priorities for strengthening the transition to primary education.

Delegates will consider priorities for reforming the Reception year and strengthening this transition to primary education, following Ofsted’s Bold Beginnings report, which looked at the Reception curriculum and called for improvements in the teaching of reading, writing and numbers and a wider review of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Profile.

Further sessions will focus on the future of assessment in early years, in light of the re-introduction of a ‘teacher mediated’ baseline test for children in Reception, which will be rolled out to all schools by the end of 2020 - examining the methodology to be used and its potential impact.

Attendees will discuss what more might be done to develop and support the early years workforce in the context of concerns over recruitment and retention, following the publication of the early years workforce report by the Education Policy Institute, which highlighted the lack of highly qualified staff in the sector and an over-reliance on unpaid staff.

Delegates will also consider the expected changes to the EYFS profile and the priorities for strengthening the transition to primary education.