The Early Years Foundation Stage

From September 2008, The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England will provide a new framework for the learning, development and welfare for children from birth to five.

The EYFS brings together Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage (2000), the Birth to Three Matters (2002) framework and the National Standards for Under-8s Daycare and Childminding (2003), building a coherent and flexible approach to care and learning.

Through the EYFS you can feel secure, knowing that the curriculum will allow your child to progress at a pace that's right for them as individuals, taking account of any particular needs they may have.

The EYFS recognises and celebrates that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. For the children, the learning opportunities will probably not feel like learning - most children will, and should, see it as just fun and play.

There are 6 areas of learning and development for the EYFS:

1. Personal, social and emotional development;
2. Communication, language and literacy;
3. Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy;
4. Knowledge and understanding of the world;
5. Physical development; and
6. Creative development.