15 July 2015 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Provisional Key Stage 2 Results

The provisional Key Stage 2 results for Kent have increased to 80.2% for attainment at Level 4 and above in reading, writing and maths combined. This compares to 78.8% in 2014.

Attainment outcomes in reading, writing and maths, together with grammar, punctuation and spelling, have all improved. Level 5 attainment overall (25%) has remained the same as in 2014, although there has been a slight dip in performance in reading and maths.   

Overall, 226 Primary schools improved their results compared to 2014. At the same time 38 schools performed below the floor standard of 65% compared to 22 schools in 2014.

Last year the national average was 79% and Kent's highest performing statistical neighbours achieved 80%.

These results will change as the national results are validated. In 2014 this process led to an increase in the provisional results for Kent by one percentage point.

Provisional Early Years Foundation Stage Results

The provisional Early Years Foundation Stage results for Kent have also increased so that 73% of children achieved a good level of development compared to 69% in 2014. Last year the national average was 60%. This continues a good upward trend in recent years which places Kent among the best performing local authorities.

Early Years Ofsted Annual Report

Ofsted has just published its Annual Report on the quality of early years provision. Nationally, 85% of early years registered providers, including schools, nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, are rated good or outstanding.  

In Kent, 89% of early years provision is rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, and 91% of children attend a good or better setting.  

The Annual Report makes the point that not enough children from disadvantaged backgrounds are benefitting from the continuous improvement in the quality of early years provision, especially the 40% of 2 year olds that are entitled to a free early years place. Too few schools make provision for 2 year olds, too few 2 year olds are taking up their free place and gaps in achievement are not narrowing.    

In Kent, in 2014, 52% of children eligible for free school meals in the EYFS achieved a good level of development, increased from 48% the previous year and compared to 44% nationally. This constituted an achievement gap of 12% compared to 19% nationally.   Kent's outcomes for this group of children are the 11^th best in the country.  

The take up of the free early years childcare place by eligible two year olds is only 58% nationally. In Kent the latest figure is 57%, which is disappointing.  It means a significant number of eligible disadvantaged 2 year olds, just over 3000 children, are not benefitting from the learning and development opportunities available in good quality childcare settings.  We expect this to improve to at least 65% by October 2015. At the same time 91% of those 2 year olds that are participating, are in good or outstanding provision.  

This issue and the effective use of the new Early Years Pupil Premium are two of our key priorities for ensuring more disadvantaged children develop well in the early years.

Children Centres play a key role in targeting support to these families and ensuring they are helped to take up the provision for eligible two year olds. The Ofsted Report indicates that 56% of Children's Centres, nationally, are rated good or outstanding. In Kent 72% of Children's Centres are good or outstanding and we expect this to improve to over 80% by 2016.

The Report identifies some key factors in bringing about improvement. These are: collaboration between providers to share expertise; ensuring 2 year olds can learn alongside older children in the Early Years Foundation Stage to support their language and social development; and sharing information, particularly at points of transition.

In Kent we have had a major project focused on developing collaborative clusters of early years settings, and stronger links between schools, early years settings and Children's Centres.   We have also begun a key piece of work to review and improve our transition arrangements to ensure more children are ready for school and good information is shared to support their transition.  

The Early Years Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector 2015 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-early-years-report-2015.

Published alongside the Early Years Annual Report, you can also access:

• HMCI's speech [https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/early-years-report-2015] at the Early Years Annual Report launch event
• Ofsted's new survey report: 'Teaching and Play in the early years – a balancing act? [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-and-play-in-the-early-years-a-balancing-act] including two videos and eight teaching and play good practice case studies.

For more information on the work of the Early Years Education and Childcare Service in Kent, please contact Alex.Gamby@kent.gov.uk. 

Patrick Leeson
Corporate Director Education and Young People's Services