Relative age and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile: How do birth month and peer group age composition determine attribution of a ‘Good Level of Development’—and what does this tell us about how ‘good’ the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is?

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) is a statutory, summative teacher assessment against nationally prescribed criteria. It completed for all children in state education England summer of the reception year, when September‐born are nearly 6 and summer‐born turning 5. This research uses quantitative descriptive regression analyses de‐identified National Pupil Database records spanning 2008–2018 ( N = million+). considers how children’s own age mean their school year‐group peers interplay determining attribution EYFSP ‘Good Level Development’ (‘GLD’). Birth month starkly predictive ‘GLD’ attribution: on average, across years, August‐borns 30 percentage points less likely to be deemed ‘Good’ than September‐borns. Moreover, an older predicts lowered chances born seasons. In 2018, example, child much had estimated 58% chance being attributed ‘GLD’; comparable young 65% chance; autumn‐born old 79% 83% chance. Results build upon previous indicating that teachers’ judgements relative, also complement studies describing ‘moderation’ requirements forcing teachers shape scores into patterns within schools. latest revision continues ignore dominance effects context relative judgement. Therefore cannot entirely ‘reliable, valid accurate’ measure ‘child development’ as intended by Department Education.