Transition to school

The early years foundation stage requires practitioners to make a professional judgement about a child’s progress and development.

Ensure that you share each child’s current level of attainment with the receiving teacher. This could be through a written record, online journal or verbal discussion.

Summative assessment

This is a record of the child’s attainment in the setting. This document ensures that every child has a smooth and seamless transition to school. It supports professional dialogue between setting and school staff and provides reception teachers with key information.

How to complete the summative assessment

The front sheet provides essential information, as well as space for key person, child and parent voice.

For every child transitioning to reception, as a minimum you should:

complete the front sheet (pages 1-2)
provide information about the child’s characteristics of effective learning

You do not need to complete the table for the prime and specific areas if you feel you have covered this in your tracking document.

Supporting information

Ensure that you attach the latest information where you have indicated that the child has received further support. For example, a speech and language plan.

Areas of learning

Be as detailed as you can in the characteristics of effective learning area to help their next teacher. Focus on the positives - what the child can do.

In the prime and specific areas, list the key strengths (you can use bullet points).

In the final box, detail no more than three key next steps from across all areas of learning.