Parent Information

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage is a framework set by Government to support children's learning and development from 0 to 5 years. Since September 2008, all providers offering care and education to children aged 0-5 outside of the family home work to the same framework and standards.

There are four EYFS themes, each of these themes is linked to an important principle:

  • A Unique Child

    Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

  • Positive Relationships

    Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.

  • Enabling Environments

    The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.

  • Learning and Development

    Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected

The statutory early learning goals (below) establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of the EYFS

  • Communication, language and literacy

    Communication, language and literacy -

    children develop their competence in communicating, speaking and listening, being read to and beginning to read and write
  • Personal, social and emotional development

    Personal, social and emotional development -

    children are provided with experiences and support which will help them to develop a positive sense of themselves and of others; respect for others; social skills; and a positive disposition to learn
  • Problem solving and reasoning

    Problem solving and reasoning –

    children are supported in developing their understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in a broad range of contexts
  • Creative development

    Creative development –

    children are provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, creativity, ideas and feelings, for example, through a variety of art, music, movement and dance
  • Physical development

    Physical development –

    children are given opportunities to be active and interactive and to improve their skills of coordination, control, manipliation and movement
  • Knowledge and understanding of the world

    Knowledge and understanding of the world –

    children are supported in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world.