The Early Years Foundation Stage

The EYFS framework sets the standards to make sure that children aged from birth to 5 learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.  It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. The framework is for all Ofsted registered early years providers in all settings, including:
  • nurseries
  • childminders
  • pre-schools
  • reception
The framework changed on 1 September 2021

Please click here to see the recent changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework
The EYFS seeks to provide:
  • quality and consistency in all early years settings, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind;
  • a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly;
  • partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers;
  • equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported.
Four guiding principles should shape practice in early years settings. These are:
  • every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured;
  • children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships;
  • children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers; and
  • children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.
​The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities

Learning and Development

There are 7 areas of learning and development in the curriculum:
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding of the World
  • Physical Development
  • Expressive Arts and Design
​The seven areas of Learning and Development together make up the skills, knowledge and experiences appropriate for babies and children as they grow, learn and develop.

The 3 prime areas:
  • communication and language
  • physical development
  • personal, social and emotional development

The 4 specific areas:
  • literacy
  • maths
  • understanding the world
  • expressive arts and design

Please click here to view the Statutory guidance
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework