EYFS Framework

Early Years Foundation Stage

What is the EYFS?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework is a government document that all schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers in England must follow. It sets standards for the learning, development, and care of your child from birth to 5 years old. The standards ensure your child will learn and develop well and is kept healthy and safe.

What Will My Child Be Learning?

The EYFS framework outlines seven areas of learning and development and Educational Programmes.

There are three prime areas of learning, which are particularly important for your child’s development and future learning:

Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development

There are four specific areas of learning: • Literacy • Mathematics • Understanding the world • Expressive arts and design These 7 areas are the basis for our curriculum. Careful thought is given to inform our enabling environments (indoors and outdoors), to provide resources, activities and learning opportunities to meet each child’s unique requirements.

Our curriculum is very flexible and responsive to follow children’s interests and those totally unplanned learning opportunities that sometimes come out of the blue, such as it unexpectedly snowing!

How Will My Child Be Learning? Young children learn through play. The EYFS refers to the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These are: • Playing and exploring • Active learning • Creating and thinking critically

You can find more information on the Characteristics of Effective Learning below.

Overview – Characteristics of Effective Learning, and Areas of Learning and Development

Formal assessments take place during the EYFS:

• Statutory Reception Baseline Assessment (at the start of the reception year) • Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (at the end of the EYFS) Your child’s Early Years Foundation Stage Profile will be shared with you at the end of the EYFS. This will inform you of your child’s progress and whether they have met or are continuing to work towards their early learning goals (ELGs). There are 17 ELGs your child is expected to achieve by the end of the EYFS.

Reception Baseline Assessment Information

RBA – Pupil Data Privacy notice

RBA – Information for Parents

Newton Hall Infants’ Ambitions for Reception, please click on the image to enlarge.

Guidance to your child’s learning and development in the early years foundation stage: What to expect, when?

4Children – What to expect, when? (Parent Guide)