What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is how the Government and early year’s professionals describe the time in your child’s life between birth and age 5.

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.

Nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

It sets out:

The legal welfare requirements that everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare.

The 7 areas of learning and development which guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge.

Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS.

Expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the reception year; these expectations are called the “Early Learning Goals (ELGs)”.

There is also guidance for the professionals supporting your child on planning the learning activities, and observing and assessing what and how your child is learning and developing.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is what we want the children to learn in the time they are with us. It is based on the statutory Early years Foundation Stage 2024 (EYFS), through the 7 areas of learning, but is unique to our setting, providing activities and experiences that deliver these areas of learning. We observe and develop the children's interests because we know they will get most out of the experience because it is unique to them.

Two Year Old Progress Check

For all our children aged 2, we must give parents a written summary of how their child is progressing against the 3 Prime Areas of Learning. This check will highlight areas where their child is progressing well and any where they might need extra help or support, and how we might work with parents to achieve this. We will be doing these checks only when we feel the children have settled into Playgroup properly, and will be inviting you in to share them with us.