The challenge
Why do GLD percentages plateau — even with good teaching?
Improving GLD is one of the most pressurised challenges facing EYFS leaders today. Despite dedicated early years practice, many schools find that GLD figures plateau. Children may be engaged, happy learners — but the specific developmental skills needed to reach the Early Learning Goals remain elusive. The problem is rarely poor teaching. More often, it is the absence of a systematic, precise way of identifying which foundational skills are missing and building them incrementally before it is too late.
The gap Launchpad identifies
What is actually missing — and why it matters
Launchpad maps every Early Learning Goal directly to the foundational skills that underpin it — from fine motor control and auditory memory to expressive language and symbolic understanding. Rather than targeting ELGs broadly, practitioners can identify the precise skill gap acting as a barrier for each individual child and intervene with surgical precision.
- Fine motor control and mark-making readiness
- Auditory memory, discrimination, and phonological awareness
- Expressive and receptive language foundations
- Symbolic understanding and early creative skills
- Social-emotional readiness and pragmatic communication skills
- Attention, concentration, and self-regulation
How Launchpad solves it
Assess → Identify → Build → Track
Step 1 — Assess
Baseline from the start
Use age-related assessments mapped to ELG sub-statements to identify where each child is on the developmental continuum — from Rising 3s through Reception.
Step 2 — Identify
Find the exact gap
Pinpoint which specific skill gaps — across motor, language, auditory, visual, and social-emotional strands — are acting as barriers to GLD for each target child.
Step 3 — Build
Close gaps systematically
Follow step-by-step skill progressions, embedding targeted opportunities into all aspects of practice rather than isolated programmes.
Step 4 — Track
Monitor cumulative progress
Monitor progress at key assessment points throughout the year so cumulative gains build towards GLD by the end of Reception.
What's included for members
Everything you need in one place
- ELG-linked baseline assessment tools for Rising 3s, Nursery, and Reception
- Step-by-step skill progression guidance across all developmental strands
- Gap identification framework for use in pupil progress meetings
- Intervention planning and KS1 transition guidance
- CPD resources to upskill your whole team
- Position statement with evidence base and impact data
Who this is for
Built for leaders and practitioners at every level
- EYFS Leaders and DHTs responsible for GLD outcomes
- Reception and Nursery teachers wanting more targeted provision
- Headteachers seeking a whole-school approach to raising EYFS attainment
- MAT leaders looking for a consistent strategy across multiple settings
Real impact
Real impact in schools
+8%
Average GLD improvement year-on-year
73%
GLD after one year with Launchpad vs 65% before
23→65%
GLD gains over multiple years at Newby Primary, Bradford
“
GLD went from 23% to 48% and then up to 65% in the most recent years. This is because we can plug gaps and identify children who are at risk.
Headteacher, Newby Primary School – Bradford
“
GLD 2023–2024 (before Launchpad) – 65%. GLD 2024–2025 (using Launchpad) – 73%. The difference is in the precision of what we are targeting.
EYFS Lead, New Delaval Primary School – Northumberland