Early years foundation stage and key stage1

Early years foundation stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) is a teacher assessment of children’s development at the end of the EYFS (the end of the academic year in which the child turns five). It should support a smooth transition to Key Stage 1 (KS1) by informing the professional dialogue between EYFS and KS1 teachers. This information should help Year 1 teachers plan an effective, responsive and appropriate curriculum that will meet the needs of all children. The Profile is also designed to inform parents or carers about their child’s development against the early learning goals.

Good level of development

Children achieving a good level of development are those achieving at least the expected level within the following areas of learning:
• communication and language
• physical development
• personal, social and emotional development
• literacy
• mathematics

Achieving at least the expected level across all early learning goals

Children achieving at least the expected level across all early learning goals (ELGs) are those achieving ‘expected’ or ‘exceeded’ in all 17 ELGs.

Average total point score

Children have their performance measured across all 17 ELGs. The following point scoring is awarded:
• emerging – 1 point
• expected – 2 points
• exceeding – 3 points

The 2021/22 EYFS reforms were introduced in September 2021. As part of those reforms, the EYFS profile was significantly revised. It is therefore not possible to directly compare 2021/22 and subsequent assessment outcomes with earlier years.

Results for the Lancashire-12 area

In 2022/23, 64.4% of Lancashire-12 children achieved a good level of development. This was lower than England (67.2%) but above the averages for the North West (64.3%) and neighbouring unitary authorities (Blackpool 63.9% and Blackburn with Darwen 63.7%). More Lancashire-12 girls achieved a good level of development; 72.0% girls compared with 57.1% boys.

The average score for Lancashire-12 achieved on the EYFSP was 13.8 points. This was lower than that of England (14.1) but higher than the North West (13.7) and higher than the neighbouring unitary authorities Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool (both 13.4).

Below is the summary of the percentage of children achieving at least the expected level within each area of learning for Lancashire-12 and its comparators, with Lancashire-12 generally leading the way when compared to regional and neighbouring unitary authorities' performance. Lancashire-12 performance improved for each area of learning compared to that in the previous year and is currently ranked second in all areas of development except Physical Development (82.1%) and Expressive Arts and Design (82.4%) where it is ranked third. England ranks first in all areas of development and the North West region ranks third in all areas except Physical Development (83%), where it is ranked second, and in Expressive Arts and Design (82.1%) where it is ranked fourth. Blackburn with Darwen was ranked fifth in all areas except Understanding the World (74.7%) for which it was equal fourth with Blackpool. Blackpool is ranked fourth or equal fourth in all areas of development except in Expressive Arts and Design (83%) where it is second after England.

Table 1, Percentage of children achieving at least the expected level within each area of learning Lancashire and unitary authorities compared to England and region, 2022/23.

  Lancashire-12 area Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool North West England
Overall 64.4% 63.7% 63.9% 64.3% 67.2%
Average score 13.8 13.4 13.4 13.7 14.1
Communications and Language 78.1% 74.6% 75.6% 77.1% 79.7%
Physical development 82.1% 80.6% 81.7% 83.0% 85.2%
Personal, Social and Emotional development 81.6% 79.7% 80.2% 81.1% 83.2%
Literacy 67.5% 65.9% 66.2% 66.7% 69.7%
Mathematics 75.3% 71.9% 72.5% 74.3% 77.1%
Understanding the World 78.8% 74.7% 74.7% 77.5% 80.3%
Expressive Arts and Design 82.4% 78.6% 83.0% 82.1% 85.0%

Source: Local Authority Interactive Tool (GOV.UK)

Please click here to view the Department for Education's early years foundation stage profiles for recent years.

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 (KS1) is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as year 1 and year 2, when pupils are aged between five and seven.

Results for the Lancashire-12 area 

These statistics cover the attainment of year 1 and year 2 pupils who took these assessments in summer 2023. Year 2 pupils experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic. On-site attendance was limited to children of key workers and vulnerable children in January and February of their first year of school, with attendance mandatory except for self-isolating pupils for the remainder of the year.

During the 2022/23 academic year, within Lancashire-12, around 2 in 3 pupils achieved the expected standard in reading (67%) and mathematics (70%), and 59% of pupils in writing. In each instance, Lancashire-12 performance grew by 3, 5 and 4 percentage points on the 2021/22 percentages of 64%, 65% and 55% respectively for these subjects. Within the higher standard, less than a quarter (17% in 2022/23) of pupils are working at greater depth in reading, with more in writing (8%, up from 7% in 2021/22) and maths (15%, up from 13% in 2021/22). Table 2 below summarises comparator performance.

Table 2, Percentage of pupils achieving expected and higher standards, Lancashire and unitary authorities compared to England and region, 2022/23.

Area

Percentage reaching the expected standard

Percentage reaching the higher standard

 

Reading

Writing

Maths.

Science

Reading

Writing

Maths.

Lancashire-12

 67

 59

 70

 78

 17

 8

 15

Blackburn with Darwen

 67

 57

 70

 75

 15

 6

 14

Blackpool

 68

 59

 68

 75

 16

 6

 13

England

 68

 60

 70

 79

 19

 8

 16

North West

 67

 58

 69

77

 17

 6

 14

Source: DfE, KS1 local authority tables: LAIT, October 2023.


Other KS1 facts for Lancashire-12 during the 2022/23 academic year.

• A higher percentage of pupils whose first language is English achieved the expected standard in all four main elements (reading, writing, mathematics and science) than pupils for whom English is not their first language.
• Girls continued to outperform boys at the expected standard in three of the main elements (reading, writing and science), whereas boys have outperformed girls in one of the main elements (mathematics).
• Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals continued to perform lower than other pupils across all four main elements.
• Performance of pupils with no identified special educational needs or disability (SEND) across all four main elements was higher than SEND pupils.

Lancashire-12 performance was equal to Blackburn with Darwen for the percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in Reading and Mathematics but was higher for the subjects of Writing and Science. County performance was higher than Blackpool for the percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in Mathematics and Science but lower for Reading. County performance in Writing was the same as in Blackpool.

District level figures are not yet available for the 2022/23 academic year. The following section will be updated when these figures are available.

At Lancashire-12 district level, generally, the areas with a high level of deprivation showed the lowest levels of attainment for the percentage of pupils achieving the expected level in all four main elements. In Chorley, Fylde, Ribble Valley, West Lancashire and Wyre, performance was higher and above the Lancashire-12 percentage.

Table 3, Percentage of pupils achieving expected standard, Lancashire districts, 2021/22

Local authority district

Reading

Writing

Mathematics

Science

Burnley

58

49

61

71

Chorley

68

59

69

78

Fylde

71

60

69

81

Hyndburn

54

46

57

63

Lancaster

66

56

66

80

Pendle

57

51

61

69

Preston

64

56

64

75

Ribble Valley

72

61

72

84

Rossendale

65

59

65

77

South Ribble

65

53

65

76

West Lancashire

64

58

66

78

Wyre

66

53

69

74

Lancashire-12

 64

 55

 65

 75

Blackburn with Darwen

 67

 56

 67

 74

Blackpool

 63

 52

 63

 74

Lancashire-14

 67

 56

 67

 74

Source: DfE, KS1 local authority tables: underlying data table 2022_KS1_PUPIL_RESIDENCY_UD.


Please click here to view the Department for Education's key stage 1 results for 
recent years.  

Page updated May 2024