What is EYFS?
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
All children deserve the best possible start in life and encouragement to realise their potential. A child's experiences in the early years can have a lasting impact on their future chances in life. Having security, feeling safe and being happy from a young age provides the foundation for children to make the most of their talents as they mature.
When a parent chooses a setting for their child, they need to know whether the provision will keep their child safe and create a stimulating and caring environment to enable them to flourish.
The EYFS Framework is a holistic approach to your child's learning and development.
Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development. Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
- Communication and language;
- Physical development; and
- Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are the most essential for your child's healthy development and future learning.
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the world; and
- Expressive arts and design.
These 7 areas are used to plan your child's learning and activities. The practitioners teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child's unique needs. This is a little bit like a curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it's suitable for very young children, and it's designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.
Where can I go for further information?
The most important place to find out more is by talking to your child's nursery – do ask as many questions as you need to. We at KKDC really do welcome speaking with you.
You can find the Early Years Foundation Stage which includes the early learning goals at www.foundationyears.org.uk. The foundation year's website also includes a range of resources and contacts.
"The development of a tree depends on where it is planted"
Edward Joyner (Yale University)