(EYFS) Early Years Foundation Stage
A Unique Child
Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Practitioners:
• Understand and observe each child’s development and learning.
Assess progress and plan for next steps.
• Support babies and children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
• Identify any need for additional support.
• Keep children safe.
• Value and respect all children and families equally.
Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Positive relationships are:
• Warm and loving, and foster a sense of belonging.
• Sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs, feelings and interests.
• Supportive of the child’s own efforts and independence.
• Consistent in setting clear boundaries.
• Stimulating.
• Built on key person relationships in early year’s settings.
Enabling Environments
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners, parents and carers.
Enabling Environments:
• Value all people.
• Value learning.
They offer:
• Stimulating resources, relevant to all the children’s cultures and communities.
• Rich learning opportunities through play and playful teaching.
• Support for children to take risks and explore.
Learning & Development
Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in Early Years provision, including children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities. Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development.
They foster the characteristics of effective early learning by:
• Playing and exploring.
• Active learning.
• Creating and thinking critically.
Department for Education (2012) Early Years Foundation Stage, DfE Publications
