The document discusses the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which brings together previous guidance documents and aims to ensure consistency in care, learning, and development for children from birth to 5 years old. The EYFS is based on four themes - a unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments, and learning and development. It outlines specific legal requirements that childcare providers must meet and the six areas of learning that are covered.

1. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

2. What this means for your child What the EYFS is and why it was introduced Please stop me at any point to ask a question How we monitor your child's progress

3. Brings together 3 documents: 1. Birth to Three Matters (2002)

4. 2. National standards for under 8s day care and childminding (2003)

5. 3. Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage (2000)

6. Every Child Matters: Change for Children (2004) It is based on the document…

7. The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes Be Healthy Stay Safe Enjoy and Achieve Make a positive contribution and Achieve economic well-being

8. It aims to ensure a consistent approach to care, learning and development from birth to the end of the Foundation Stage Helps practitioners plan care and learning that is right for each child at their stage of development.

9. The EYFS is based on four themes, which are underpinned by 4 principles. Each principle is supported by 4 commitments which describe how the principle can be put into practice. THEME PRINCIPLE COMMITMENT COMMITMENT COMMITMENT COMMITMENT

10. A Unique Child Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured . 1.1 Child Development 1.2 Inclusive Practice 1.3 Keeping Safe 1.4 Health and Well-being

11. Positive Relationships Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. 2.1 Respecting each other 2.2 Parents as Partners 2.3 Supporting Learning 2.4 Key Person

12. Enabling Environments The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. 3.1 Observation, assessment and Planning 3.2 Supporting Every Child 3.3 The Learning Environment 3.4 The Wider Context

13. 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. 4.1 Play and Exploration 4.2 Active Learning 4.3 Creativity and Critical Thinking 4.4 Areas of Learning and Development

14. Specific Legal Requirements Must have effective systems to ensure individual needs of all children are met Promote equal opportunity Each child must be assigned a key person Must ensure there is a balance of adult led and freely chosen or child initiated activities through indoor and outdoor play

15. Providers must undertake sensitive observational assessment in order to plan to meet young children’s needs Providers must plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child’s stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals.

16. Stages of development Birth to 11 months 8-20 months 16-26 months 22-36 months 30-50 months 40-60+ months

17. Key Issues Not using a topic based approach Avoiding product outcome activities Child led display work Outdoor Play

18. The 6 Areas of Learning Personal, Social and Emotional Development Communication, Language and Literacy Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy Knowledge and Understanding of the World Physical development Creative development

19. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Dispositions and Attitudes Self confidence and self esteem Making relationships Behaviour and self control Self care Sense of community

20. Communication, Language and Literacy Language for communication Language for thinking Linking sounds and letters Reading Writing Handwriting

21. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy Numbers as labels for counting Calculating Shape space and measures

22. Knowledge and Understanding of the World Exploration and investigation Designing and making ICT Time Place Communities

23. Physical development Movement and Space Health and bodily awareness Using equipment and materials

24. Creative development Being creative – responding to experiences and communicating ideas Exploring media and materials Creating Music and Dance Developing imagination and imaginative play