Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2024 - Information for Parents
Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child's experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2024 in the UK sets the standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years old. It aims to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life and the support needed to fulfill their potential. Here's what you need to know:
Key Areas of Learning and Development:
- Prime Areas:
- Communication and Language: Encouraging children to develop their listening, speaking, and understanding skills.
- Physical Development: Promoting physical activity and healthy choices in food and hygiene.
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: Helping children develop self-confidence, form positive relationships, and manage their feelings.
- Specific Areas:
- Literacy: Developing reading and writing skills through storytelling, phonics, and mark-making activities.
- Mathematics: Introducing numbers, shapes, space, and measurements through fun, hands-on activities.
- Understanding the World: Exploring the environment, people, communities, and technology.
- Expressive Arts and Design: Encouraging creativity through art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design.
The EYFS Framework:
The framework is designed to be flexible so that professionals can respond to each child's unique needs and interests. It covers:
- Learning through Play: Children learn best through play and exploration, which is central to the EYFS approach.
- Assessment: Practitioners observe and assess each child’s development to plan individualized learning experiences.
- Safeguarding and Welfare: Ensuring a safe, secure, and healthy environment for all children.
Partnership with Parents:
Parents are a child's first and most enduring educators. The EYFS encourages strong partnerships between parents and practitioners to support children’s learning and development. Regular communication about your child's progress and ways to support their learning at home is a vital part of the EYFS.
The Goals of EYFS:
The EYFS aims to provide:
- Quality and consistency in all early years settings.
- A secure foundation for learning and development tailored to individual needs.
- Partnership working between practitioners and parents.
- Equal opportunities for all children to succeed.
By focusing on these areas, the EYFS helps children develop a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for their future education journey.
