Reception Baseline Assessment Activities

Move beyond tick lists with this practical collection of assessment activities, designed to help you build a meaningful picture of each child’s starting point as they begin Reception.

Each activity focuses on a key area of learning or development and provides clear guidance on:

What to ask the child
What to observe
The key skills to look for
Space to record observations and next steps

Rather than relying solely on formal assessments, these activities allow children to demonstrate what they know and can do in a relaxed, child-friendly way, helping you gather valuable information to support your professional judgement.

Activities included:
Name Writing
Pencil Grip
Colour Recognition
Counting Objects
Pattern Recognition
Number Recognition to 10
Subitising to 5
Initial Sounds
Fine Motor Skills
Cutting Skills
Listening & Following Instructions

Perfect for use during the first few weeks of Reception, these printable assessment sheets can be used alongside your own observations to strengthen your baseline and identify children’s strengths, areas for development and next steps.

Ideal for:

Reception teachers
EYFS practitioners
Baseline assessment
Evidence gathering
Professional judgement
Planning next steps
Parent discussions
SEND identification

What’s included:

11 printable assessment activity sheets
Teacher prompts for every activity
Observation focus points
Space for notes and next steps
Simple, professional layouts that are easy to print and use in the classroom

© 2026 EYFS with Mrs S. All rights reserved.