SEND Assessment Steps 4-5 Years

This document is for Early Years practitioners to monitor and celebrate the progress children with SEND make. Other guidance documents are available to help aid your assessments, such as the Development Matters 2021, Birth to 5 Matters 2021 and a Celebratory Approach to SEND Assessment (Pen Green).

The observation checkpoints, that are included in Development Matters non-statutory curriculum guidance for EYFS, are included within these SEND assessment steps.

This document is designed to be used as a ‘best fit’ to highlight progress and what a child can do, it is not a tick list.

These steps are often used by early years settings and SEND professionals to track progress for children who may be working below expected levels of the EYFS curriculum to assess, monitor, and plan next steps for children with SEND who are developing below typical expectations, ensuring their individual needs are met through targeted support and early intervention.

Each step typically reflects emerging, developing, or secure skills within a narrower, more differentiated range than general EYFS descriptors. Below is a detailed breakdown across key EYFS areas.

All our planning has been carefully created by experienced qualified primary school teachers with QTS therefore you can be sure that your planning will achieve your outcomes and aims.