EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage

EYFS on the Standards Site EYFS on the Primary Framework CAS Early Years and KS1

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework is statutory from September 2008. It is a single quality framework for all children 0-5, and brings together Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, Birth to 3 Matters and the care standards. The framework should ensure that provision is a richer and broader experience than the six areas of learning and development, and brings care and learning together in one document. It recognises that parents and other professionals have a significant role to play in ensuring that every child’s needs are fully met. It is a principled approach based on effective practice, building on what practitioners already do well to enable children to achieve the 5 ECM outcomes.

Each of the four themes

A unique child
Positive relation ships
An enabling environment
Learning and development

are underpinned by four principles and then four commitments, 16 in total that expand a particular theme. There is nothing in EYFS that was not already in existing guidance.

The six areas of learning and development, and their aspects are: -

Personal, social and emotional development (Dispositions and attitudes; self-confidence and self-esteem; making relationships; behaviour and self-control; self-care; sense of community)

Communication Language and literacy (Language for communication; language for thinking; linking sounds and letters; reading; writing; handwriting)

Problem solving reasoning and numeracy (Numbers for labels and for counting; calculating; shape, space and measure)

Knowledge and Understanding of the world (Exploration and investigation; designing and making; ICT; time; place; communities)

Physical development (Movement and space; health and bodily awareness, using equipment and materials)

Creative development (Being creative-responding to experiences, expressing and communicating ideas; exploring media and materials; creating music and dance; developing imagination and imaginative play)

E2BN Nursery Project, where you can find out all about a Cambridgeshire Learning Network project, being run by the six nursery schools. You will also find resources to support Early Years Foundation Stage mathematics.