The revised Early Years Foundation Stage

The revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is how the Government and early years professionals describe the time in your child’s life between birth and age 5.

This is a very important stage as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and successes. From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

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Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:

• Communication and language;

• Physical development; and

• Personal, social and emotional development.

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These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy

development and future learning.

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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.

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These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The Key person leading 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.