The Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007

Statutory Instruments

2007 No. 1836

EduCATION, ENGLAND

The Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007

Made

25th June 2007

Laid before Parliament

4th July 2007

Coming into force

31st August 2007

The Secretary of State for Education and Skills makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 87(2)(a) and (b) and (5) and 210 of the Education Act 2002(1) (“the Act”).

In accordance with section 87(1)(b) of the Act, the Secretary of State considers that it is expedient to change the National Curriculum for England for the foundation stage in relation to the early learning goals.

The Secretary of State referred, pursuant to section 96(2)(2) of the Act, the proposal (“the proposal”) to amend the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) Order 2003(3) (“the principal Order”) in accordance with this Order to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority(4) (“the Authority”).

The Authority—

(a) pursuant to section 96(3) of the Act, on 15^th January 2007, gave notice of the proposal—

(i) to such associations of local education authorities, bodies representing the interests of school governing bodies and organisations representing school teachers as appeared to the Authority to be concerned; and

(ii) to other persons with whom consultation appeared to the Authority to be desirable,

and gave them a reasonable opportunity of submitting evidence and representations as to the issues arising; and

(b) submitted its report on the proposal to the Secretary of State on 30^th March 2007 pursuant to section 96(4) of the Act, that report containing—

(i) a summary of the views expressed during the consultations; and

(ii) the Authority’s recommendations as to the proposal;

(c) after submitting the report to the Secretary of State, arranged for it to be published(5) pursuant to section 96(5) of the Act.

The Secretary of State—

(a) pursuant to section 96(6) of the Act, published on 18^th May 2007 in the manner which, in his opinion, was likely to bring them to the notice of persons having a special interest in education, a draft of this Order (together with the Document(6) (“the Document”) referred to in the principal Order and in the amendments to the principal Order made by this Order) and sent copies of the draft of this Order (and the Document) to the Authority and to each of the persons consulted by the Authority;

(b) allowed pursuant to section 96(7) of the Act until 17^th June 2007, being a period of not less than one month, for the submission of evidence and representations as to the issues arising;

(c) considers in accordance with section 87(2) of the Act that the early learning goals in the Document specified in this Order as amended by article 2(3) are appropriate for the foundation stage; and

(d) now makes this Order without modifications.

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007 and comes into force on 31^st August 2007.

Amendment of article 2 of S.I. 2003/391: the amended early learning goals

2.  For article 2(1) of the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) Order 2003 substitute the following—

“(1) The early learning goals specified for the purposes of the National Curriculum for the foundation stage in relation to the areas of learning specified in section 83(2) of the Act are the early learning goals specified in this article.

(1A) It is directed that the provisions relating to early learning goals specified in the following provisions of this article are to have effect for those purposes.

(1B) Subject to paragraph (1C), the early learning goals set out in the Document are specified.

(1C) The provisions of the Document are to have effect as amended by substituting for the early learning goal “Hear and say initial and final sounds in words, and short sounds within words” the following—

“Hear and say sounds in words in the order in which they occur”,

and those provisions as amended are specified.”.

Beverley Hughes

Minister of State

Department for Education and Skills

25th June 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/391; “the principal Order”) by substituting for article 2(1) new articles 2(1), (1A), (1B) and (1C). The effect is that the Document referred to in article 2(1) (defined in article 1 of the principal Order; “Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage” published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (reference QCA/00/587) in May 2000) is to have effect subject to the amendment that the early learning goal—

“Hear and say initial and final sounds in words, and short sounds within words”

is replaced by the new early learning goal—

“Hear and say sounds in words in the order in which they occur.”

The changes to the National Curriculum foundation stage early learning goals made by this Order are made following the publication of a report on 20^th March 2006 resulting from the independent review of early reading carried out by Jim Rose (“the Rose Report”). The Rose Report can be accessed at the following internet link—

• http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/phonics/

The Document can be obtained from the QCA

• The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

• 83 Piccadilly

• London W1J 8QA

or accessed at the following internet link—

• www.qca.org.uk .

The QCA’s report to the Secretary of State, published on 31^st May 2007, may be accessed at the following link—

• http://www.qca.org.uk/160_16473.html.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

2002 c. 32; subsection (2) of section 87 and the words “(2) or” in subsection (5) of that section have been prospectively substituted by section 48 and 103(2) of, and paragraph 10(1) and (3) (in relation to subsection (2)) and (5) (in relation to subsection (5)) of Schedule 1, and Part 1 of Schedule 3, to the Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21) on a date to be appointed pursuant to sections 109(2) and 110(1), (2) and (6)(a) of that Act.

(2)

Section 96 has been amended in subsection (1) by paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Childcare Act 2006.

(3)

S.I. 2003/391.

(4)

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority was established under section 21 of the Education Act 1997 (c. 44).

(5)

The QCA published its report on 31^st May 2007.

(6)

Published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (reference QCA/00/587) in May 2000.