At Nursery World's EYFS conference in April, national director for earlyyears at National Strategies Ruth Pimentel told delegates that Progressfrom the Start would be sent to local authorities in June (News, 8May).
However, it is believed that children's minister Beverley Hughes haspersonally put a halt to the guide, after the fallout from Open Eye'scampaign. The group has led a protest against the EYFS becoming law,which led to scrutiny by the Commons Select Committee (News, 29May).
A DCSF spokesperson said National Strategies was working with localauthorities and providers to help develop their practice and newapproaches to understanding children's development.
'We understand that this has been delayed while they develop it further.We expect it to be released later in the year. There is considerableguidance on observing and assessing children's progress in existencealready in the EYFS.'