Early Learning Goals: What Children Learn by the End of Reception

The early learning goals (ELGs) describe what children in England are expected to know and be able to do by the end of Reception. There are 17 goals across seven areas of learning. In the summer term, teachers judge each child as either "expected" or "emerging" for every goal and share the results with parents. A child who meets the expected level in 12 key goals is said to have reached a "good level of development".

Most children are well on their way to the goals by the summer of Reception, and plenty reach them in Year 1 instead. Knowing what the goals actually describe makes the end-of-year report far easier to read.

The seven areas of learning

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) splits learning into three prime areas and four specific areas. The prime areas underpin everything else. The specific areas build on them.

What the goals look like in practice

Each goal has a short description of what a typical child can do by the end of Reception. A few examples help make them concrete.

• Speaking: taking part in conversations, using new vocabulary and explaining ideas in full sentences.

• Self-regulation: showing some control over feelings, waiting for what they want and following instructions with several steps.

• Fine motor skills: holding a pencil effectively, beginning to show accuracy when drawing, and using small tools such as scissors safely.

• Word reading: saying a sound for each letter of the alphabet, blending sounds into words, and reading simple sentences and books matched to their phonics knowledge.

• Writing: writing recognisable letters, spelling words by identifying sounds, and writing simple phrases and sentences that others can read.

• Number: having a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including how they are made up, and quickly recalling number bonds to 5.

• Numerical patterns: counting beyond 20, comparing quantities and exploring patterns such as odd and even numbers.

These descriptions are not checklists. Teachers use their professional knowledge of each child, built up through observation over the year.

How the EYFS profile works

The EYFS profile is the formal summary of each child's development at the end of Reception.

1. Ongoing observation. Throughout the year, teachers watch children learn through play and everyday activities. Children are not tested.

2. Summer-term judgements. For each of the 17 goals, the teacher decides whether the child is at the "expected" level or still "emerging".

3. Reporting to parents. Schools must give parents the results and offer a chance to discuss them.

4. Passing on to Year 1. The Year 1 teacher receives a copy of each child's profile, so they can plan from where the child is.

Profiles must be completed and submitted to the local authority by 30 June. The full rules are set out in the Department for Education's EYFS profile handbook.

What is a good level of development?

A child reaches a good level of development (GLD) when they meet the expected level in:

• all goals in the three prime areas (seven goals)

• the literacy goals (three goals)

• the mathematics goals (two goals)

The understanding the world and expressive arts and design goals do not count towards GLD, though they still matter for a child's wider development.

Nationally, 68.3% of children reached a good level of development in 2024 to 2025. The government has set an ambition for 75% of five year olds to reach it by 2028.

If your child is "emerging"

An emerging judgement simply means a child has not yet reached the expected level in that goal by the end of Reception. It is common, especially for younger children in the year group. Summer-born children can be almost a year younger than classmates born in September.

If your child is emerging in one or two goals, ask the teacher which skills to focus on over the summer and how Year 1 will pick them up. Keep the tone light. A child who enjoys books and counting games over the holidays usually makes more progress than one who is drilled.

If your child is emerging in several areas, or you have concerns about speech, language or development, talk to the school's special educational needs coordinator.

Supporting the goals at home

Worksheets are rarely needed at this age. Most of the goals grow out of ordinary family life, provided there is plenty of talk and play in it.

Conversation does more than anything else. Chatting over meals, on the way to school and at bedtime builds vocabulary and listening, especially when you ask questions that need more than a one-word answer, like "What do you think happens next?" Reading together every day adds to that: point to words as you read, talk about the pictures, and let your child guess where the story is going. If you know which sounds they are learning in phonics, play games around them, such as spotting things in the room that start with "m".

Number sense comes from counting and comparing real things: stairs, socks in a pair, grapes shared fairly between two plates. Hand strength for writing comes from play dough, threading beads, cutting with child-safe scissors and drawing. Letting your child dress themselves, wash their hands and tidy up, even when it is slower, builds the independence the "managing self" goal describes. And board games quietly cover a surprising amount: turn-taking, counting, and coping when things do not go your way.

Moving into Year 1

If your child's profile shows a few goals still emerging, Year 1 is a good time to give them a boost. Our KS1 English tuition and KS1 maths tuition work on early reading, writing and number in small groups, and our Year 1 maths workbooks offer structured number practice at home. Merit Tutors is also an Ofsted-registered childcare provider.

Frequently asked questions

When will I receive my child's EYFS profile results?

Schools share results in the summer term of Reception, usually with the end-of-year report, and must offer you a chance to discuss them.

Is the EYFS profile a test?

No. Teachers make judgements based on what they have observed over the year. Children do not sit any test for it.

What happens if my child does not reach a good level of development?

Your child moves into Year 1 as normal. The Year 1 teacher uses the profile to plan support, so the information helps your child get the right teaching early.