Early Years Foundation Stage

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What is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the educational framework setting out the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old, including the reception year of school. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers (nurseries, play groups, preschools, child minders, often called early years settings), must follow the EYFS.

Young children learn best through play. The EYFS recognises the central importance of play, direct experiences and active learning to support young children's learning most effectively.

,For more information about how and what your child will learn at nursery and school, there is  a helpful guide for parents and carers called What to expect, when?

The Development Matters guidance is non-statutory guidance that supports early years practitioners to implement the EYFS.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) summarises and describes children's attainment at the end of the Foundation Stage that is, at the end of the reception year. Schools must report to parents how their children are doing across all the areas of learning, and describe how children are learning, called the characteristics of effective learning found in paragraph 1.9 of page 10 in the EYFS Statutory Framework.

Early Years Foundation Stage resources

In September 2021 there will be a new EYFS framework and new Development Matters Guidance, this year both are for use by the early adopter schools only. You will be able to find a variety of Early Years Foundation Stage resources by visiting our useful practitioner resource page.