Official figures put Southend at 74.8% of Reception children reaching a good level of development, top of 11 East of England councils and above England's 72.3%.
Southend’s five-year-olds did better than children anywhere else in the East of England last school year, the government’s official figures show. In 2025/26, 74.8% of Southend children reached a “good level of development” by the end of Reception.
That is 1,397 of the 1,867 children assessed. The England figure was 72.3%, and the East of England’s was 72.5%. The Department for Education published the results on 22 October (DfE, early years foundation stage profile results 2025/26).
The council announced a record result in September, before the national figures existed. We reported it then in Southend early years: record 74.9%. The DfE’s final figure is a tenth of a point lower, and it settles the question that story left open: Southend is above the national average.
Where Southend ranks
Southend is first of the 11 councils in the East of England. It is 32nd of the 153 councils in England with published figures, our count from the DfE’s local authority data (DfE data set: headline measures by child characteristics).
Its neighbours both did well too. Essex reached 73.9% and Thurrock 73.0%.
The jump matters as much as the ranking. Southend rose 6.5 percentage points in a year, from 68.3% in 2024/25. England rose 4.0 points. Two years ago Southend was behind the country, at 66.1% against 67.7%.
What “a good level of development” means
Every child is assessed by their teacher at the end of Reception, against 17 early learning goals. A child reaches a good level of development if they meet the expected level in the goals for:
- communication and language
- personal, social and emotional development
- physical development
- literacy
- maths
Southend children met the expected level in an average of 14.7 of the 17 goals. The England average was 14.4. And 73.7% met every one of the 17, against 70.9% nationally.
The gaps that remain
About one Southend child in four did not reach the standard: 470 children. The DfE’s breakdowns show who they are more likely to be.
| Group of Southend children | Reached a good level, 2025/26 | 2024/25 | England, 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All children | 74.8% | 68.3% | 72.3% |
| Girls | 79.2% | 75.2% | 78.6% |
| Boys | 70.7% | 61.5% | 66.3% |
| Eligible for free school meals | 57.3% | 50.5% | 54.8% |
| Not eligible for free school meals | 78.5% | 72.5% | 76.4% |
| SEN support, no EHC plan | 37.1% | 25.8% | n/a |
Boys made the biggest gain, up more than nine points. They still trail girls by more than eight.
Children on free school meals improved by almost seven points, to 169 of 295. But they are still 21 points behind their classmates. That gap is almost exactly the national one, so Southend has lifted every group rather than closing the distance between them.
Children with SEN support rose from 25.8% to 37.1%, or 65 of 175. Of the 93 children with an education, health and care plan, four reached the standard. Every child is assessed against the same goals, whatever their needs.
Against the targets
Southend’s Best Start plan set a target of 75.1% by 2028. The official figure leaves it 0.3 points short, two years early. The government’s national target is 75% by 2028.
The DfE’s back series differs slightly from the figures in the council’s plan. It puts Southend’s 2023/24 result at 66.1%, where the plan said 65.5%. We have used the DfE’s figures throughout.
What it means for you
- If your child starts Reception in September 2027, applications are open now on the council’s primary school admissions page. The closing date is 15 January 2027.
- These are council-wide figures. The DfE does not publish results for individual schools. Ofsted reports remain the way to judge a particular Reception class.
- Help before school is available through the council’s Best Start Family Hubs, which offer parenting support, child development advice and school-readiness help.
- Our term dates page has the 2026/27 calendar.
Sources
- Early years foundation stage profile results, 2025/26, Department for Education, published 22 October 2026
- Data set 1: headline measures by child characteristics, Department for Education (local authority, sex, free school meals and SEN breakdowns; ranking is our count)
- Southend children achieve record early years success, Southend-on-Sea City Council, 23 September 2026
- Best Start Local Plan April 2026 to 2029, Southend Best Start (the 75.1% target)
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