The EYFS Profile (EYFSP) is a statutory assessment of all children at the end of the reception year. It is intended to provide a reliable, valid and accurate assessment of each child’s development at the end of the EYFS. It is made up of an assessment of the child’s outcomes in relation to the 17 early learning goal (ELG) descriptors. Practitioners must use their professional judgement to make these assessments.

DfE publishes national, regional and local authority level EYFSP statistics on an annual basis on explore education statistics.  EYFSP data submitted from the summer term in 2026 onwards will be available in Analyse School Performance (ASP) a secure web-based platform accessible via Department for Education Sign-in from the end of the 2026 autumn term.

Ofsted will also have access to the same school level EYFSP data that is available in ASP. As stated above, this will apply to EYFSP data submitted from the summer term in 2026 onwards and therefore will feature in Ofsted’s inspection data summary report (IDSR) from the end of the 2026 autumn term. EYFSP data will be used as a starting point for conversations during inspection, including how schools use the data to support transitions from reception into key stage 1. Ofsted will not make gradings solely using EYFSP data.

Teachers and School Leaders should refer to the Department for Education’s EYFS Profile Handbook when making and submitting assessments in order to make accurate and reliable judgements about each child’s level of attainment. The EYFSP handbook should be read carefully.

The 2026 EYFS Profile assessments must be submitted to the Local Authority by 12 noon on 24^th June 2025. This is a few days ahead of the national deadline to allow time for the LA to support schools with any errors or submissions.

Data should be input into MIS or the LA’s secure reporting system carefully by schools and checked against each child in the reception cohort by Headteachers before submitting to the LA. It is the head teacher’s or manager’s responsibility to ensure the reliability of Profile data.

The DfE has published useful supporting guidance on the Foundation Years website including information on exemptions, assessing children with SEND and a useful Vodcast

PowerPoint Presentation (foundationyears.org.uk)

Moderation of assessments is still an important part of the assessment process. Good practice in moderation should be a collaborative process with colleagues across different schools to support the quality assurance of teacher assessment judgements and provide a valuable opportunity for professional development.

To support schools with moderating EYFS profile judgements a series of moderation opportunities are provided for reception and year one teachers in term five and six prior to submission. Look out for details and booking links on the Bristol Early Years Calendar

The Department for Education has also produced a suite of seven videos to support practitioners and leaders with the professional knowledge conversations needed to make judgements against the ELGs.