Revised early years guidance focuses on assessment

The guidance, The New Child in Focus, builds on the alliance's previous publication Child in Focus, and also includes extra advice on embracing the use of computer technology.

Stephanie Mathivet, curriculum and standards manager for the alliance, said: "Although assessment has always been important, there is a stronger emphasis now on that and the use of technology in the EYFS. Not a lot of practitioners get training in the area of assessment so they really do need a lot of support."

The new guidance encourages creative approaches to assessment, such as getting parent more involved in the process through regular meetings and discussions. This would give parents a chance to contribute by bringing in pieces of work done at home and reporting on learning progress in an informal manner.

Practitioners can order the publication from the Pre-School Learning Alliance website.