Children in Early Years at Simon Balle All-through school attain highly. The proportion of children who achieve a ‘good level of development’ (which means reaching expected levels in the first five areas of learning shown with a * below) has been consistently in line or above the national average. This figure was 71.7% in 2019. Though Covid-19 has had an impact on some aspects of attainment, as seen in the table below for 2021, in many areas it is clear that children are continuing to flourish in line with levels prior to the pandemic. Simon Balle has high expectations of all children, and provision is matched to children’s needs, both in Early Years and in the continuation of their education into Years 1 and 2. The table below also shows the percentage of children reaching expected (age-related) and exceeding (above age-related) levels in comparison with the national average for each area of learning.
| Areas of learning | Simon Balle 2021 | Simon Balle 2019 | National 2019 | |||
| Expected | Exceeding | Expected | Exceeding | Expected | Exceeding | |
| Communication and language * | 83.6% | 20.3% | 83.3% | 25.0% | 82.4% | 15.3% |
| Physical development * | 83.1% | 16.9% | 85.0% | 17.0% | 87.3% | 13.1% |
| Personal, social and emotional development * | 89.2% | 11.9% | 90.0% | 13.3% | 85.2% | 10.4% |
| Literacy * | 67.8%
read 74.6%, wri 61.0% |
22%
read 27.0% wri 17.0% |
73.3% | 21.7% | 73.3% | 10.3% |
| Mathematics * | 74.6% | 12.0% | 75.0% | 10.0% | 78.3% | 12.8% |
| Understanding the world | 88.1% | 10.2% | 93.3% | 18.3% | 83.9% | 8.5% |
| Expressive arts and design | 83.1% | 8.5% | 86.7% | 8.3% | 87.1% | 12.4% |
All students are expected and supported to make at least good progress through the Early Years. From careful observations of children during their child-initiated learning when they begin with us, as well as strong partnerships established between home and school, children are set personalised and meaningful targets in all areas of learning. This embedded and strong practice continues as well as the introduction of the new national Reception baseline toolkit in 2021 (please see information for parents here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1004560/2021_Information_for_parents_reception_baseline_assessment.pdf )
As the year progresses, achievements are celebrated on Tapestry (our online system for tracking progress) and next steps are always followed through. Progress in 2021 sustained the strong progress achieved every year at Simon Balle, with almost all children in all areas of learning making at least good progress, and a very high proportion of children, especially in specific areas of learning (reading, writing and mathematics included), making accelerated progress.
