Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is how the government and early years professionals describe 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 successes. From birth until the age of 5 your child's early years experience should be: happy, active, exciting, fun and secure and should support their development, care and learning needs.

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

What is the EYFS Framework - why do we have one?

The EYFS Framework (2017) exists to support all professionals working in the EYFS to help your child and was developed with a number of early years experts and parents.

It sets out:

• The legal welfare requirements which everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare.
• The 7 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)".

How your child will be learning

The EYFS Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development.

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through the 7 areas of learning and development.

Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:

Communication and language

Physical development

Personal, social and emotional development.

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:

Mathematics

Literacy

Understanding the world

Expressive arts and design

These prime areas are the most essential for your child's healthy development and future learning.

These 7 areas are used to plan your child's learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child's unique needs.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.