Five-year-olds will be assessed at the end of Reception year, instead of at the start, under new ministerial proposals.
This means children’s progress toward the new Early Learning Goals will be measured at the end of the Foundation Stage, introduced in September.
The plans also call for one national baselie assessment scheme, beginning in 2002, to replace the 90 approved ones now in use.
The move follows a study showing that, while most heads and teachers were happy with the current baseline scheme, they also wanted nationally comparable data so they could demonstrate the effectiveness of their school.
