Early years foundation stage (EYFS)

All schools and registered early years providers in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This includes:

• reception and nursery classes in maintained and independent schools
• day nurseries
• childminders
• playgroups
• after school and breakfast clubs
• holiday playschemes
• children’s centres

The EYFS is a single quality framework to support children’s learning and development from birth to five years (end of child’s reception year).

Young children learn best through play, and early years practitioners will be able to provide children with appropriate play and learning experiences for their stage of development to help them develop new skills. It will enable practitioners to recognise children’s strengths and areas they need more support to develop new skills.

For young children it is important that they are made to feel safe and secure in their surroundings, this is aided by having a ‘key person’ within the setting who gets to know the children and parents and builds a positive relationship with the family.

Further information and documents about the welfare requirements and learning and development aspects of the EYFS can be found on their individual pages.