The first results of a new assessment for five-year-olds show that 52 per cent have reached a ‘good level of development’ at the end of reception year. 

The early years foundation stage profile  is a set of assessments carried out by teachers covering 17 different areas of learning including reading, writing, numbers, but also being imaginative and making relationships.

To be rated as ‘good’ children need to have hit expectations in 12 of these areas - including being able to count to 20 and read simple sentences.

Writing was the hardest of the goals with only 62 per cent achieving the expected level of being able to write simple sentences with some phonetically plausible spellings. In comparison 88 per cent able to use technology such as a computers, telephones and cameras.

The results show boys lagging behind girls, with only 44 per cent at a ‘good level of development’ compared to 60 per cent of girls.

The early years foundation stage profile was overhauled this year - previously teachers had to assess children on a nine-point scale in 13 areas.

The standard for a ‘good level of development’ has also changed, with more areas included and the standard for maths being raised - from being able to count to 10 to being able to count to 20, add and subtract two single-digit numbers and solve problems including doubling, halving and sharing.

Last year, under the old system, 64 per cent of children were deemed at a ‘good level of development’.

But the figures published today are higher than in a pilot study into the new assessment which found only 41 per cent of children were assessed at a ‘good level of development’.