Progress Check at Age Two
The progress check at age two is a statutory assessment under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. It helps identify how a child is developing and whether they need extra support.
What the progress check must include
The summary should:
- Highlight areas where the child is doing well
- Identify areas where extra support may be needed
- Focus on any concerns about developmental delay, which may indicate special educational needs or disability
- Describe activities and strategies the provider will use to address concerns
This plan should involve parents, carers, and other professionals such as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or health professionals.
Guidance and resources
Additional non-statutory guidance is available. It includes:
- Example format for the progress check
- Example letter for parents
- Tips for parents to support their child’s development
Integrated reviews
Where possible, the progress check should link with the Healthy Child Programme review at age two. This helps health and education professionals share information and work together.
Providers must have parental consent before sharing information with other professionals.
Why this matters
A child’s brain is 80% developed by age three. The first 1,001 days are crucial for development.
We are working with childcare providers and the County 0–19 Hub to deliver an integrated review for two-year-olds. This combines health and education assessments to give parents a clear picture of their child’s development.
The review helps parents:
- Support their child to be ready for school
- Ensure children who need extra help get it early
Support for providers
The Graduated Response Toolkit can help practitioners plan actions, engage parents, and review progress.
Letter for parents
Settings can send this letter to parents of two-year-olds. It explains the integrated review process.
