Parents* of under-fives may have heard nurseries, pre-schools, childcare professionals and other parents referring to “the EYFS”. However, what is it, and how does it affect your children? Well, the full description of the EYFS is over 50 pages long — but few of us have time for that. So today, we give you our Quick Guide to the EYFS, so you can get a good overview of it and learn how it applies to your child — all in just five minutes or so.

What is the EYFS?

Firstly, EYFS stands for Early Years Foundation Stage. In essence, it’s a carefully-specified ‘framework’ or ‘methodology’ around which the entire approach to early years learning, development and care is built. It covers babies, from birth, and children aged up to 5. We explain what the framework covers in more detail, together with its aims, later in this guide.

Is the EYFS Optional?

For early years practitioners in England, following the EYFS framework is not optional. It is actually enshrined in law in England, via Section 39 of the Childcare Act 2006, so is an important and binding entity. (Other parts of the UK have similar equivalents).

Nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and other early years providers have to abide by the rules and approach outlined, in detail, within the EYFS guidance. This is a way to ensure that high standards of early years education, childcare provision and safeguarding are followed and maintained, for the well-being of the children.

Where Does Ofsted Come Into It?

Adherence of childcare and early years providers to the rules, methodologies, guidance, recommendations and measures specified in the EYFS framework is monitored by Ofsted, the UK Government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Ofsted monitors all early years providers in England, each of which must be registered with them and follow the EYFS rules. Regular visits and inspections take place and, indeed, this is where ‘Ofsted reports’ for early years settings come from.

What are the Main Aims of the EYFS?

The EYFS framework recognises that every child is unique and aims to maximise their well-being, skills, knowledge and life-long potential. This is done by:

• Ensuring high levels of safeguarding, welfare and happiness for every child at an early years setting;
• Ensuring that every child feels valued and experiences equal opportunities;
• Ensuring that the early years education and care for each child is consistent and of high quality;
• Helping children achieve personal bests, in a wide variety of skills;
• Helping them to build their knowledge of a wide range of topics and of the world;
• Giving them every opportunity to prepare thoroughly for the transition to school once they leave their early years setting;
• Encouraging a close partnership and common aims between early years practitioners and the parents of the children. Read more about the importance of parental involvement in early years education here.

By close and careful nurturing of every aspect of children’s early learning and development, those children build the foundations for the very best start in life. It is then that they are they likely to reach their fullest potential, in the short, medium and long term.

What Form Does the EYFS Framework Take?

The EYFS framework consists of 4 key components:

1. A programme governing every aspect of every child’s unique learning and development — effectively being their own bespoke curriculum;
2. Learning goals, tailored to every child, to bring out their best in every area;
3. Continuous assessment of every child, to ensure they progress towards their goals, through the learning and development plan that’s tailored to each of them;
4. A safeguarding and welfare framework i.e. statutory requirements and guidelines designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children at early years settings.

We’ll take each in turn to give a bit more detail …

1. The EYFS Learning & Development Programmes

This element is, in effect, the curriculum and covers 7 areas of their learning and development:

1. Communication and Language;
2. Physical Development;
3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development;
4. Literacy;
5. Mathematics;
6. Understanding the World;
7. Expressive Arts and Design.

The 7 core areas are designed for each child in a very structured way and approached through play, exploration, active learning, creativity and critical thinking. We’ll go into much more detail about the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum in a separate, future post in due course.

2. The EYFS Goals

A set of goals, tailored for each child, is generated for each of the 7 areas of their learning and development. Childcare professionals – and ideally parents at home too – will help children work towards those goals.

3. EYFS Child Assessments

As they work towards their individual goals, assessments will be made, for each child, on a continuous basis. By assessing the children, the learning and development programme and the goals themselves can be tailored and fine-tuned along the way, as required. This will optimise each child’s progress and achievements.

Children also receive a ‘Progress Check at 2’ report as part of this, the age of two being an important developmental milestone when it comes to learning and development. Similarly, each child will have an ‘Early Years Foundation Stage Profile’ (EYFSP) compiled for them as they approach the age of five. This will be useful information ready for when the child leaves the early years setting to begin school.

We’ll perhaps write separate, more detailed posts about some of the above in due course.

4. EYFS Safeguarding & Welfare Specifications

Another key and crucial element of the EYFS relates to the safeguarding and welfare of each child. The EYFS specifies statutory requirements for early years settings in this regard. In essence, early years and childcare providers have to do everything they can to keep children safe, happy and well — of course. For example, specifications within the EYFS framework require settings and providers to:

• Ensure those who have access to children are suitable, safe, pre-vetted people;
• Ensure staff are trained and suitably qualified;
• Appoint a ‘Key Person’ to oversee and monitor the learning and development of each child;
• Maintain minimum staff-to-child ratios;
• Promote good health at the setting, including the administration of medicines;
• Foster a good approach to children’s eating and drinking;
• Provide adequately in regard to instances of injury, accident or illness;
• Provide a safe premises with appropriate Health & Safety levels and protocols all in place;
• Provide sufficient levels of space and activity opportunities both indoors and outside;
• Ensure only the ‘right’ people can enter the premises and access the children;
• Provide appropriate levels of support for children with special educational needs or disabilities;
• and more!

Overall, the EYFS is a framework that is designed to provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment for children to learn and develop in their early years. It recognises that children learn best through play and practical, hands-on experiences. It focuses on the individual needs and interests of each child and provides a complete, holistic approach to their learning and development. Learn more about what to expect for your child from the EYFS here (Acrobat PDF document).

A High Quality Nursery & Pre-School in Hindley Green, near Wigan

We wholeheartedly support the aims and implementation of the EYFS at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. If you are considering enrolling your child at our nursery or pre-school, we would be happy to give you and your child a tour and answer any questions you may have. We can also provide information on the various childcare funding options that are available to eligible families. You can register your child, schedule a visit, or contact us using the buttons below.

Little Acorns is a wonderful nursery & pre-school in Hindley Green and may also suit those looking for the best childcare service near Wigan, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, Bolton and Greater Manchester.

^{* We use the term ‘parents’ for the sake of brevity. In the context of this article and website, it is also a placeholder for the main carer(s) or guardian(s) of children.}