What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a framework produced by the Government in 2012 in which all professionals working with children aged from Birth to five years must follow. Its aim is to support the development, learning and care needs of your child through play and positive experiences whilst preparing them for their future.
What is the EYFS Framework?
The EYFS sets out legal welfare requirements that I must follow in order to keep your child safe and to promote their welfare.
Within the EYFS are 7 areas of learning and development which guide my engagement with your child's play, allowing me to provide activities that will extend your child's learning and develop their knowledge at a pace right for them as an individual.
On a quarterly basis I am required to assess your child's progress through the EYFS using progress reports and tracking systems based upon my knowledge of your child's learning and through written evidence in observations. These will be shared with you and provide opportunities for your input in your child's learning and development.
By the time your child reaches the end of reception they are expected to attain Early Learning Goals. These are based on the information highlighted in your child's trackers.
The EYFS helps me to support your child by giving guidance on planning activities, observing and assessing so that I am best able to further their learning and development.
Within the EYFS are 7 areas of learning and development which guide my engagement with your child's play, allowing me to provide activities that will extend your child's learning and develop their knowledge at a pace right for them as an individual.
On a quarterly basis I am required to assess your child's progress through the EYFS using progress reports and tracking systems based upon my knowledge of your child's learning and through written evidence in observations. These will be shared with you and provide opportunities for your input in your child's learning and development.
By the time your child reaches the end of reception they are expected to attain Early Learning Goals. These are based on the information highlighted in your child's trackers.
The EYFS helps me to support your child by giving guidance on planning activities, observing and assessing so that I am best able to further their learning and development.
How will my child be learning?
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:
These prime areas are those 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:
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. |
How can I find out how my child is getting on?
You will be able to get information about your child’s development at any time and with prior arrangements I am able to sit and go through your child's learning journal with you.
In order to further your child's learning and enjoyment whilst in my care, it is beneficial that I am aware of what your child has been doing outside of my care, what they have enjoyed, likes and interests. This allows me to extend their learning in a way best suited to them and highlights any areas that they need to be doing more of. It also gives me the opportunity to provide you as parents with ways of extending what your child already knows and elaborating on their play at home.
In order to further your child's learning and enjoyment whilst in my care, it is beneficial that I am aware of what your child has been doing outside of my care, what they have enjoyed, likes and interests. This allows me to extend their learning in a way best suited to them and highlights any areas that they need to be doing more of. It also gives me the opportunity to provide you as parents with ways of extending what your child already knows and elaborating on their play at home.
When your child is 2
After your child reaches the age of two, I am legally required to provide you with a written summary of how your child is progressing within the three prime areas of learning:
- communication and language;
- physical development; and
- personal, social and emotional development.
When your child is 5
At the end of the EYFS – in the summer term of the reception year in school –teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile. This assessment is carried out by the reception teacher and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over a period of time.
Another important part of the EYFS Profile is your knowledge about your child’s learning and development, so it is important to let your child’s teacher know about what your child does with you: such as how confident your child is in writing their name, reading and talking about a favourite book, speaking to people your child is not so familiar with or their understanding of numbers.
All of the information collected is used to judge how your child is doing in the 7 areas of learning and development. Finding out at this stage how your child is doing will mean that the teacher your child has in their next school year – year 1 – will know what your child really enjoys doing and does well, as well as helping them decide if your child needs a bit of extra support, what that support should be and if they are already getting it.
The school will give you a report of your child’s progress, including information from his or her EYFS Profile.
Another important part of the EYFS Profile is your knowledge about your child’s learning and development, so it is important to let your child’s teacher know about what your child does with you: such as how confident your child is in writing their name, reading and talking about a favourite book, speaking to people your child is not so familiar with or their understanding of numbers.
All of the information collected is used to judge how your child is doing in the 7 areas of learning and development. Finding out at this stage how your child is doing will mean that the teacher your child has in their next school year – year 1 – will know what your child really enjoys doing and does well, as well as helping them decide if your child needs a bit of extra support, what that support should be and if they are already getting it.
The school will give you a report of your child’s progress, including information from his or her EYFS Profile.