How to use the EYFS correctly to work out a childs development stage please explain???

[Notinthemood]

I am not quite sure how to decide on a child's development stage especially when they say not to use it as a checklist. If I have a child who is 28mths and is doing most of the areas in the 16-24mth band and a couple in the 22-36mth band do I mark them as 22-36mths as they are staring to move onto this area or 16-24 because that's where they have achieved most :-/ people seem to have different ideas about things when I ask. I am sorry I am new to this. So children seem more easier to work out.

[tutu]

have you been told about emerging expected or exceeding? they will have these behaviours just starting or be at the expected rate or exceeding them you just need to say which. so the first example would be emerging in one area expected in the others they WONT be the same in every one thats not how children develop