The Authority—

(a) pursuant to section 96(3) of the Act, on 15 ^th January 2007, gave notice of the proposal—

(i) to such associations of local education authorities, bodies representing the interests of school governing bodies and organisations representing school teachers as appeared to the Authority to be concerned; and

(ii) to other persons with whom consultation appeared to the Authority to be desirable,

and gave them a reasonable opportunity of submitting evidence and representations as to the issues arising; and

(b) submitted its report on the proposal to the Secretary of State on 30 ^th March 2007 pursuant to section 96(4) of the Act, that report containing—

(i) a summary of the views expressed during the consultations; and

(ii) the Authority’s recommendations as to the proposal;

(c) after submitting the report to the Secretary of State, arranged for it to be published( 5 ) pursuant to section 96(5) of the Act.

The Secretary of State—

(a) pursuant to section 96(6) of the Act, published on 18 ^th May 2007 in the manner which, in his opinion, was likely to bring them to the notice of persons having a special interest in education, a draft of this Order (together with the Document( 6 ) (“the Document”) referred to in the principal Order and in the amendments to the principal Order made by this Order) and sent copies of the draft of this Order (and the Document) to the Authority and to each of the persons consulted by the Authority;

(b) allowed pursuant to section 96(7) of the Act until 17 ^th June 2007, being a period of not less than one month, for the submission of evidence and representations as to the issues arising;

(c) considers in accordance with section 87(2) of the Act that the early learning goals in the Document specified in this Order as amended by article 2(3) are appropriate for the foundation stage; and

(d) now makes this Order without modifications.

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007 and comes into force on 31 ^st August 2007.

Amendment of article 2 of S.I. 2003/391 : the amended early learning goals

2. For article 2(1) of the Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) Order 2003 substitute the following—

“ (1) The early learning goals specified for the purposes of the National Curriculum for the foundation stage in relation to the areas of learning specified in section 83(2) of the Act are the early learning goals specified in this article.

(1A) It is directed that the provisions relating to early learning goals specified in the following provisions of this article are to have effect for those purposes.

(1B) Subject to paragraph (1C), the early learning goals set out in the Document are specified.

(1C) The provisions of the Document are to have effect as amended by substituting for the early learning goal “Hear and say initial and final sounds in words, and short sounds within words” the following—

“ Hear and say sounds in words in the order in which they occur ” ,

and those provisions as amended are specified. ” .