Early Years Foundation Stage

Hi my name is Keri Cooper and I over see the running and organisation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) across the Lloyd Park Centre. 

The purpose and aims of the EYFS is to help young children to achieve the five outcomes from the ‘Every Child Matters Agenda’ which include staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well being. 

‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to reach their full potential’ DCSF 2008 (statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage) 

This is what we aim to offer every child accessing services within The Lloyd Park Centre.

What is the EYFS?

• The EYFS is a stage of children’s development from birth to the end of their first year in school.  (Reception) 
• The EYFS Framework describes how early years practitioners should work with children and their families to support their development and learning. 
• It describes how your child should be kept safe, cared for and how all concerned can make sure that your child achieves the most that they can in their earliest years of life.
• It is based on four principles. 

What are the EYFS principles?

Theme: A Unique Child

• Principle: Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. 

Theme: Positive Relationships

• Principle: Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. 

Theme: Enabling Environments 

• Principle: The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning.

Theme Learning and Development

• Principle: Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and interconnected.

Early learning is the key to your child’s future and families make the greatest difference at this stage. 

The EYFS aims to help children achieve the 5 outcomes by: 

1. Setting standards 
2. Promoting Equality of opportunity 
3. Creating a framework for partnership working 
4. Improving quality and consistency 
5. Laying a secure foundation for future learning and development

The Key Person

Each child in our setting will be assigned a Key Person. 

A key person has special responsibilities for working with a small number of children, giving them reassurance to feel safe and cared for and building relationships with their parents 

A key person plays a vital role in a child’s life and must demonstrate consistency, sensitivity and be responsive to the child’s needs. They should engage, interact and connect with you and your child.

Your key person will be responsible for observing, assessing, recording and planning for your child’s individual needs and development.

How is the EYFS delivered?

We deliver the EYFS through a play based learning environment and encourage all children to explore, investigate and experiment with a wide range of resources, this may include items such as shaving foam, food, real tools and very large equipment. We encourage the children to try new activities, develop friendships and learn from one another. 

We believe that children learn by experiencing things for themselves and that this will allow them to develop confidence and independence to help them in their future life. 

Most of all we believe that you know your child best and that your involvement is vital to your child’s learning and development.