Statutory Framework for the Early Years …

1 Copies of this publication are available from: You can download this publication and obtain further information at: Copies of this publication are available from: DCSF Publications Statutory Framework for the PO Box 5050. Sherwood Park Annesley Early Years Foundation Stage Nottingham NG15 ODJ May 2008. Tel 0845 60 222 60. Fax 0845 60 333 60. Textphone 0845 60 555 60 Setting the Standards for Learning, Development email: Please quote ref: 00267-2008 BKT-EN. and Care for children from birth to five [ISBN: 978-1-84775-128-7]. First published 2007. This revised edition published May 2008. Crown copyright 2008. Published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families Extracts from this document may be reproduced for non-commercial research, education or training purposes on the condition that the source is acknowledged as Crown copyright, the publication title is specified, it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context.

2 The permission to reproduce Crown copyright protected material does not extend to any material in this publication which is identified as being the copyright of a third party. For any other use please contact Statutory . Framework . 80% This publication is printed When you have finished with on 80% recycled paper this publication please recycle it ST IVES 05-2008. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage Contents Section 1 Introduction Purpose and aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage 07. Context and legal responsibilities 07. About this document 08. A principled approach 08. Setting the standards 09. Providing for equality of opportunity 09. Creating the Framework for partnership working 10.

3 Improving quality and consistency 10. Laying a secure foundation for future learning 10. Section 2 The learning and development requirements Overview of the learning and development requirements 11. The Early learning goals and educational programmes 12. Personal, Social and Emotional Development 12. Communication, Language and Literacy 13. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy 14. Knowledge and Understanding of the World 14. Physical Development 15. Creative Development 15. The assessment arrangements 16. Assessment during the EYFS 16. Assessment at the end of the EYFS the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile 16. Assessment arrangements the requirements 17. The Early Years Foundation Stage 00267-2008 BKT-EN.

4 Statutory Framework Crown copyright 2008 03. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage Contents Section 3 The welfare requirements Overview of the welfare requirements 19. The general welfare requirements 19. Meeting the welfare requirements 20. Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare 22. Suitable people 29. Suitable premises, environment and equipment 33. Organisation 37. Documentation 38. Section 4 Other information Other legal duties 41. Competency in English 41. Exemptions 41. Inspection and regulation 42. Local authorities 42. Where to go for help 43. Appendix 1. Assessment scales 44. Appendix 2 Specific legal requirements for ratios of adults to children 49. Glossary 52. The Early Years Foundation Stage 00267-2008 BKT-EN.

5 04 Statutory Framework Crown copyright 2008. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five The Early Years Foundation Stage 00267-2008 BKT-EN. Statutory Framework Crown copyright 2008 05. The Early Years Foundation Stage 00267-2008 BKT-EN. 06 Statutory Framework Crown copyright 2008. Section 1 Introduction Purpose and aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to fulfil their potential. A child's experience in the Early Years has a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right, and it provides the foundation for children to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.

6 When parents choose to use Early Years services they want to know that provision will keep their children safe and help them to thrive. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the Framework that provides that assurance. The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic well-being by: setting the standards for the learning, development and care young children should experience when they are attending a setting outside their family home, ensuring that every child makes progress and that no child gets left behind;. providing for equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice and ensuring that every child is included and not disadvantaged because of ethnicity, culture or religion, home language, family background, learning difficulties or disabilities, gender or ability.

7 Creating the Framework for partnership working between parents and professionals, and between all the settings that the child attends;. improving quality and consistency in the Early Years sector through a universal set of standards which apply to all settings, ending the distinction between care and learning in the existing frameworks, and providing the basis for the inspection and regulation regime;. laying a secure foundation for future learning through learning and development that is planned around the individual needs and interests of the child, and informed by the use of ongoing observational assessment. Context and legal responsibilities The EYFS is a central part of the ten year childcare strategy Choice for parents, the best start for children and the landmark Childcare Act 2006.

8 The Act provides the context for the delivery of the EYFS and taken together with the other elements of the strategy, the EYFS will be central to the delivery of the new duties on improving outcomes and reducing inequalities. Recent Years have seen significant developments in Early Years practice and standards. The EYFS builds on these and practitioners will recognise continuity with the principles, pedagogy and approach of the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, the Birth to Three Matters Framework , and the National Standards for Under 8s Daycare and Childminding. These three frameworks are replaced by the EYFS and will be repealed. The EYFS is given legal force through an Order and Regulations made under the Act.

9 From September 2008 it will be 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 Early Years Foundation Stage 00267-2008 BKT-EN. Statutory Framework Crown copyright 2008 07. The term ' Early Years provider' includes: maintained schools; non-maintained schools;. independent schools; and childcare registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register (to be introduced in September 2008), all of which are required to meet the EYFS requirements. From September 2008 it is the legal responsibility of these providers to ensure that their provision meets the learning and development requirements, and complies with the welfare regulations, as required by Section 40 of the Act.

10 About this document This document contains the Statutory Framework for the EYFS. It sets out the legal requirements relating to learning and development (the Early learning goals; the educational programmes;. and the assessment arrangements) in Section 2 and the legal requirements relating to welfare (safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; suitable people; suitable premises, environment and equipment; organisation; and documentation) in Section 3. The learning and development requirements are given legal force by the Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) Order 2007 made under Section 39 (1) (a) of the Childcare Act 2006. The welfare requirements are given legal force by Regulations made under Section 39 (1).