Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS)

Within all nurseries we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS)

The EYFS is a play based curriculum for children from Birth to 5 years, which allows children to explore and learn in an environment that is secure and safe, yet challenging. Play opportunities are non-stereotypical and available to all children promoting the teaching and learning from a skilled workforce.
It has four main principles which shape the practice, these are:
 • Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
 • Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interest and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
 • Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Within the EYFS Framework practitioners provide activities and make assessment judgements based on the seven areas of learning: 3 Prime Areas and 4 Specific Areas.

Prime

  • Communication and Language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations
  • Physical Development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity6, and to make healthy choices in relation to food
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities

Specific

  • Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest
  • Mathematics  involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure
  • Understanding the World involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment
  • Expressive Arts and Design  involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology

When planning and guiding activities practitioners will reflect upon the different ways that children learn and ensure they utilise this within their practice. The Characteristics of Effective Learning are:

Playing and Exploring

  • Playing and Exploring – Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.

Active Learning

  • Supports children's motivation to learn by helping develop their concentration, ability and will to keep trying when challenges occur and celebration of completing a task.

Creating and Thinking Critically

  • Supports children's thinking skills through developing ideas, making links between differing ideas and create strategies for completing a task.

The EYFS emphasises that parents are a child's primary educator and therefore encourages parents to contribute to their child's learning.

To learn more about the EYFS and how you as a parent can help your child, Click here to download Parents Guide to the EYFS.