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Outcomes duties and EYFS assessment worry teachers

The role of assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage and concerns about the impact of Government targets on local authorities to raise outcomes for young children were among issues in a debate held by the National Union of Teachers last week to inform the development of the union's policy on early education.

Some delegates voiced concerns about a 'top-down effect' on schools and young children from the early years outcomes duty, a new responsibility on local authorities to raise the number of children meeting the early learning goals in the EYFS Profile.

Speaking on behalf of the Open Eye campaign, Richard House said outcomes for children impinged on children's development.

He said the duties were a major problem with the EYFS because 'the act of linking roles to outcomes duties is likely to mislead practitioners to focus on the goals in order to be seen to be meeting the mandatory requirements. If profile scores are low, then schools may see this as a failure of their school, rather than the scores being developmentally inappropriate.'

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