Early Years Foundation

Early Years Foundation

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their Early Years experiences should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure and support their development, care and learning needs.

Nurseries, pre-schools, school reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. The EYFS framework exists to support all professionals working in early years to help your child, and was developed with a number of early years experts and parents.

In 2023, the framework was revised to make it clearer and easier to use, with more focus on the things that matter most.

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of learning and development. Children should mostly develop the three prime areas first:

Communication and language

  • Listening, Attention and Understanding

  • Speaking

Physical development

  • Gross Motor Skills

  • Fine Motor Skills

Personal, social and emotional development

  • Self-Regulation

  • Managing Self

  • Building Relationships

These prime areas are the most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas:

Literacy

  • Comprehension

  • Word Reading

  • Writing

Mathematics

  • Numbers

  • Numerical Patterns

Understanding the world

  • Past and Present

  • People, Culture and Communities

  • The Natural World

Expressive arts and design

  • Creating with Materials

  • Being Imaginative and Expressive

These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs.

This is similar to a curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it is suitable for very young children, and is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child’s unique needs and interests. With the EYFS, children learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking, which takes place both indoors and outside.

To read more about the EYFS, please visit