The progress check at age two is a valuable opportunity for early years practitioners to support children’s development and wellbeing. It offers a chance to share with parents the vital role early development plays in a child’s future and to guide them in understanding their child’s needs. Most parents are eager to learn how their child is progressing and how they can help at home, making them especially open to thoughtful, supportive conversations. As practitioners, it is important we approach this check with care and sensitivity, recognising that some parents may feel anxious or judged. By building trust and working in partnership, we can empower families to play a confident role in their child’s early development—laying the foundations for lifelong wellbeing.
Review the child’s development: Provide parents and/ or carers with a short written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas.
Identify the child’s strengths: If there are any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected, practitioners should develop a targeted plan to support the child.
Highlight areas of concern: Identify if additional support might be needed for the child.
Make a plan: Describe the activities and strategies they intend to adopt to address any issues or concerns.
Help parents/guardians: Help them to understand their child’s needs and enhance their child’s development at home
The progress check at age two must be undertaken between the child’s second and third birthday. If the child is going to be in your room for most of their 2nd year, the responsibility will be on you to complete the 2 year check before the child moves up to preschool.
When the child started in the setting: Has there been enough time for the key person to build a relationship with the child? Do we know enough about the child and their interests?
Individual needs and circumstances: Has the child experienced a period of ill health or another significant event (e.g. the arrival of a sibling, a bereavement or a family breakdown or transition)? In these cases, we might review whether the timing is appropriate and consider delaying the check.
Pattern of attendance: If a child has a period of non-attendance or irregular attendance, you might delay the review. If a child only attends for a few hours each week, consider how much time to allow so that you know the child well enough before undertaking the check.
Before sharing your report with a child’s parents to discuss the progress check, take time to reflect on what you know about the child as their key person. Draft a few brief, balanced comments that give an accurate overview of their development across the prime areas—communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. Follow our template below to help structure your response.