What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) sets out the learning and development stages for children as they grow from birth to five years.
A guidance booklet has been produced supported by the Department for Education for parent/carer’s to find out more about how your child is learning and developing during their first five years. To view and download the guide please visit
The EYFS is based on 4 overarching principles which shape good practice in early years settings:–
A unique child
Every child is a unique. They are consistently learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Enabling environments
Children learn and develop well in environments where their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and yourself as a parent and/or carer.
Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of your child within the early years setting, including children with additional needs.
So what does this mean for you and your child?
The EYFS supports practitioners to provide play experiences that enable your child to expand their knowledge and skills to support their individual learning and development in their early years. As practitioners we recognise your child’s strengths and areas they may need additional support with. This support may come from within the nursery or from other professionals.
It is important for your child to feel safe and secure in their surroundings, this is aided by having a ‘Key Person’ within the setting who will get to know you and your child well and build a strong and interactive relationship with you both. Your child’s key person is based in your child’s unit and spends quality time with their key children as individuals and in their group. If your child’s key person is unavailable other practitioners in the unit will be able to support you and your child as they will also have a good relationship with you both.
The activities and experiences that we provide for your child will underpin the skills they need to work towards the Early Learning Goals in the following 7 areas –
Prime Areas
Communication and language
Physical Development
Personal, social and emotional development
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Art and Design
We recognise that learning and development are important from birth. The 7 areas within the EYFS are all of equal importance however for children under 3 years old the Prime areas are our focus. These 3 Prime areas support your child’s initial skills and give them the basis to develop in the 4 Specific areas when at nursery. Our staff are trained towards the highest qualifications in Early Years and use this knowledge and their experience to provide planned activities and projects. We extend your child’s learning through these and your involvement is paramount to achieve this.
In partnership with parents we will use our observations to plan future activities and projects which relate to children’s current interests, needs and the world around them. This will help develop their independence and life skills for their future.
Your child has an individual learning journey, which can be accessed through Tapestry, where we record observations, videos, photos and other information that is kept as an on-going record of their developmental journey.
If you have any further questions about early education or the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) please talk to your child’s key person who will be able to offer further information.