Early Years Foundation Stage Profile and the Review of Support for Disabled University Students

Today’s Education in the Media blog reviews the results of our annual Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, and the Review of Support for Disabled Students in Higher Education in England report.

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile

Yesterday, Thursday 18 October, the Department for Education published annual Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) results for England 2018 to 2019. The publication reports on the percentage of children achieving a good level of development or achieving at least an expected level across all early learning goals (ELGs), at national and local authority level. ELGs are the knowledge, skills and understanding children should achieve by the end of their reception year.

Education Minister Nick Gibb said:

These statistics show that more pupils are leaving the early years with better language and vocabulary and more confident in holding a conversation and listening to their teachers and their peers.

This improvement is testament to the childminders, nursery and preschool staff who are pivotal in putting young children on the track to succeed from the earliest opportunity. We will continue to drive up achievement through our improved Early Learning Goals and our Hungry Little Minds campaign, which is supporting parents to start their children’s learning at home.

The Review of Support for Disabled Students in Higher Education

Today, Friday 18 October, the Office for Students (OfS) published a report on the impact of higher education on disabled students. Their research shows from January to March 2019, 74% of disabled university graduates were  in employment, compared to 89% of non-disabled graduates. The report also shows only 46% of disabled people with GCSEs were in employment, compared to 76% of non-disabled people whose highest qualification was GCSEs.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said:

We know that higher education has the power to transform lives and it’s fantastic to see the difference it can make to those with disabilities.

However, we know that gaps still remain in attainment and career opportunities, and we need to level the playing field. That’s why I am determined to break down the barriers that disabled people at university face and why we recently increased the financial support on offer for disabled postgraduate students to £20,000 in the 2019/20 academic year.

I want to see universities stepping up to the challenge to improve support for students from all backgrounds, including disabled students, so everyone can flourish in higher education and have the best possible chance of a successful career.