The government has said it is “on track” to meet its target of 75 per cent of children being “school ready” by 2028, as new data reveals the largest year-on-year rise since the reformed assessment began. Figures published this morning show that 72.3 per cent of reception children achieved a good level of development in their early years foundation stage (EYFS) profile assessments in the last academic year. That’s up by 4 percentage points on 2024-25, where 68.3 per cent achieved the measure. This year’s increase is the largest since the revised EYFS assessment was first introduced in 2021-22. In 2022-23 the percentage of children with a good level of development increased by 2 percentage points compared to the year before. It increased again by 0.5 percentage points in 2023-24, and 0.6 percentage points in 2024-25. The highest the level had previously ever been was 71.8 per cent in 2018-19, but that was under the old assessment system. The measure assesses children’s progress across areas such as language, personal, social and emotional development and maths and literacy. The Labour government pledged that 75 per cent of children would be school-ready by 2028. The DfE said this years’ results mean they are on track to meet this target. Early years foundation stage profile results for 2025/26 The percentage would have to rise 2.7 percentage points in two years – or 1.35 percentage points each year on average – to meet the 75 per cent target by 2028. In the last academic year less children were assessed under the EYFS profile than the year before, decreasing from 589,500 to 576,700. The government said this was down to a decline in births. Disadvantage gap narrows slightly The DfE said while more disadvantaged pupils are reaching the standard, a “stubborn disadvantage gap remains”. The difference between the 10 per cent most and 10 per cent least deprived areas has narrowed slightly in 2025-26, at 19.1 percentage points. This stood at 20.1 percentage points the year before. Children eligible for free school meals are still less likely to meet the good level of development, with 54.8 per cent achieving the measure compared to 76.4 per cent of non-FSM eligible children. But the FSM figure has still increased compared to the previous year by 3.5 percentage points. More children with SEN provision also met the measure, at 24.1 per cent, up by 3.5 percentage points from last year. The gender gap has narrowed slightly this year, from 13.7 percentage points to 12.3 percentage points. Despite this girls are still getting better results than boys, with 78.6 per cent of girls achieving a good level of development compared to 66.3 per cent of boys. ‘Cautious hope’ Education secretary Lucy Powell linked the rise to her government’s policies. She said it was “brilliant to see this government’s work to expand childcare, boost the quality of teaching in nursery and reception and rebuild family support start to show real dividends. “But despite real progress for low-income children too many are still being held back by inequalities that take root early on. “The size of the gap between rich and poor is unacceptably high and something we will bear down on.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said the results “give reason for cautious hope that things are improving”. “However it is a concern that the gaps in levels of development grew both between children receiving free school meals and their peers, and pupils with SEND and those without additional needs.” He acknowledged the work that the government had done so far on early years, but added that it “cannot rest on its laurels and must do more to support schools and parents, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds”. Councils given local targets Councils have also been given specific local targets on what proportion of children should achieve a good level of development by 2028. The highest target was 80 per cent, which 20 councils are expected to meet. They include Barnet, Hampshire, North Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire. 108 councils – or 72 per cent of councils – were given a target over 75 per cent. The lowest target was 68.8 per cent, which was given to Manchester. Councils were also given a separate target for children eligible for free school meals.