The integrated review - progress check at age 2
What does the integrated review involve?
1. A health and development review
When a child is aged 2 to 3, their parents or carers are invited to attend a health and development review with a health professional, usually health visitor or community nursery nurse.
During this appointment, parents/carers can:
- Complete an 'Ages and Stages' questionnaire
- Discuss all areas of their child's development
- Raise any developmental concerns they may have
This review helps professionals identify a child's needs early and provide appropriate support and intervention.
2. Early Years Foundation Stage progress check
If a child attends an early years setting, an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) progress check is completed between the ages of 2 and 3. Whenever possible, this check is done before the health and development review, enabling parents/carers to share the completed report with the health visiting team.
Before completing the report, the early years provider will consult parents/carers about their child's interests and development at home, combining this with their own observations and assessments.
During the review meeting, providers will discuss with parents/carers:
- The child's strengths
- Areas for development
- Support that can be put in place to meet their needs and give them the best start in life
Parents/carers will then be asked to consent to sharing the information with the health visitor, children's centre, and any relevant support teams.
The results of the education progress check are recorded in the child's personal health record (the 'red book') and reviewed by the health professional during the child's health and development review.
For further information see the What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents (pdf), which can help practitioners support parents in understanding their child's learning and development.
Supporting resources for early years settings
The DfE has published Guidance for the progress check at age 2 and to support early years providers
Watch the DfE Vodcast that explains the guidance in more detail:
- The DfE has also published a blog on the Foundation Years website explaining the importance of progress checks, particularly in light of the pandemic
- Development Matters and/or Birth to 5 Matters (pdf) are non-statutory guidance which set out how children develop and learn. The non-statutory guidance materials must not be used as assessment checklists or for tracking purposes
- The Health visiting service provides information on their support, including clinic locations and times of clinics