From birth to five: the Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers the first stage of your child’s development, from birth to the end of their first, or reception year in school. It explains how people working in childcare and education should work with you and your children to support your child's development and learning.
It describes how your child should be kept safe and cared for. It also explains how people looking after and working with your child should make sure that they achieve the most that they can in their earliest years of life. The emphasis is on learning through play.
Why do I need to know about the EYFS?
Children do best when parents and professionals work together. You know more about your own child than anyone else.
Understanding what your child is doing when they are with others will help you to notice how well they are developing and learning. People working with and looking after your child should be asking you about your child and sharing information with you about your child’s progress regularly.
Does my child have to take part in the EYFS?
If your child goes to an Ofsted-registered childcare setting, they are legally required to provide the EYFS. It has the same force in law as the National Curriculum.
How a child will learn and develop
Teachers and childcare professionals will work with children in six areas of learning and development. Those working in childcare recognise these areas of learning and development as:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development.
Why has this change been introduced?
Many of the guidelines for childcare and education for 0–5 year olds were voluntary before. The EYFS makes them compulsory.
The Government believes that improving a child’s opportunities to learn at an early age is essential in improving educational standards later in children's lives.
How will my child be monitored to see how well they are developing?
You should receive regular information on how your child is progressing from your child's key person. When they finish at their nursery, pre-school, childminder or reception class, you should receive a final summary profile of how your child is progressing before they move on to reception class or Year 1 at school.
This profile contains assessments made when observing your child learning through play. This is to see if they have made progress towards a number of goals.
Further information
There is information for parents and childcare providers on the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) website – Early Years Foundation Stage.
Contact our own Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service.
