Early Years Foundation Stage
Currently, all nursery settings use the Birth to Three Framework followed by the
Foundation Stage as the basis of their childcare and education practice. From September 2008 the Early Years Foundation Stage was mandatory for all
schools and early years providers in Ofsted registered settings attended by
young children – that is children from birth to the end of the academic year in which a child
has their fifth birthday.
The links at the bottom of this page provide all the information you need
concerning the EYFS including downloadable PDF documents, the same documents
that we as childcare practitioners use at Loseley Fields Children’s Centre to inform and guide our practice.
The following is a summary of the EYFS.
The EYFS is based around four Themes:
• A Unique Child
• Positive Relationships
• Enabling Environments
• Learning and Development
Each Theme is linked to an important Principle:
A Unique Child
• Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable,
confident and self-assured.
Positive Relationships
• Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure
relationships with parents and/or a key person.
Enabling Environments
• The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's
development and learning.
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.
