How will the implementation of challenge activities in Literacy and Mathematics impact the end of year outcomes of children in Reception?

The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits of using additional challenge activities in Literacy and Mathematics. The aim was to help more able children to achieve exceeding judgments in these areas of learning by the end of the Reception year. The progress in ‘reading’, ‘writing’, ‘numbers’ and ‘shape, space and measure’ of key focus children assessed as ‘at expected’ in baseline assessment was tracked throughout the academic year to identify if the research focus impact outcomes. 78% of children in the focus group reached ‘exceeding’ judgments resulting in more than expected progress and 12% children met the Early Learning
Goals (ELGs) meaning expected progress was achieved. The findings of the study show that carefully planned learning and appropriately differentiated activities, including additional challenge for more able children, developed greater confidence in independent learning and ensured typicality of exceeding judgements were met by the end of the Reception year.