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Early Years Foundation Stage

EYFS

 

Here at Clowns we follow the EYFS, along side Birth to Five Matters and our own curriculum to give your child the most opportunity in their early development stages. The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old.

 

The areas of learning are:

 

  • Communication & language

  • Physical development

  • Personal, social and emotional development

  • Literacy

  • Mathematics

  • Understanding the world

  • Expressive arts and design

 

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Birth to Five Matters provides comprehensive guidance, drawing on previous guidance from the EYFS which has been updated in order to reflect recent research. This is to respond to current issues in society, to meet the needs of children today and to lay a strong foundation for their futures.

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Introduction

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the time in your child’s life between birth and age 5. This is a very important stage as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and success. Your child’s early years’ experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.

Nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

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EYFS Framework

The EYFS Framework exists to support all professionals working in Early Year Foundation Stage to help your child, and has been developed with a number of early years’ experts and parents. In 2021 the framework was revised to make it clearer and easier to use, with more focus on the things that matter most and has a greater emphasis on the role of parents in helping your child develop. It sets out:

  • The legal welfare requirements that everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare.

  • The seven areas of learning and development which guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge.

  • Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS.

  • Expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the reception year; these expectations are called the ‘Early Learning Goals (ELGs)’.

There is also guidance for the professionals supporting your child on planning the learning activities, and observing and assessing what and how your child is learning and developing.

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My Child's Safety

Ensuring my child’s safety

Much thought has been given to making sure that your child is as safe as possible. Within the EYFS there is a set of welfare standards that everyone must follow. These include the numbers of staff required in a nursery, how many children a childminder can look after, and things like administering medicines and carrying out risk assessments.

 

Quality

You can find out about the quality of your child’s nursery or childminder in relation to the EYFS Framework by checking what the Government’s official inspection body for early years, Ofsted, has to say about it. You can find this information at www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report..

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How Can I Help with my Child’s Learning?

All the fun activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and development, and have a long-lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress through school.

Clowns will be able to provide ideas specifically to support your child’s development, for example:

  • Sing and tell nursery rhymes

  • Cook/bake together

  • Explore the park at different times of the year – go off the beaten track

  • Share a book

  • Talk to your child about what they are doing

  • Follow your child’s interests and join in with their play

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