Getting Ready for the Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is now compulsory. The EYFS brings together: Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage (2000), the Birth to Three Matters (2002) framework and the National Standards for Under 8s Daycare and Childminding (2003), building a coherent and flexible approach to care and learning. All providers are required to use the EYFS to ensure that whatever setting a parent chooses, they can be confident that their child will receive a quality experience that supports their development and learning.
The Child should be at the Centre of our thinking
The EYFS underlines the indivisibility in the Early Years of care and learning, the central importance of play and the fundamental need for highly tailored ‘personalised’ learning opportunities. Out of these things will grow the kind of quality early years provision that we know gives all children the sort of inclusive, stimulating start in life they deserve.
Free EYFS packs can be requested by calling 0845 6022260 and quoting ref 0012-2007PCK-EN.
Bradford Council's Early Years Foundation Stage Team are here to develop and consolidate high quality practice in all 0-4 settings through support and training.
'My Learning Picture' was launched in July 2008 to support planning and assessment within the EYFS.
Expressive Language Pro-formas
Single Language;
Dual Language
A3 Assessment Sheets
Page 1;
Page 2
A4 Assessment Sheets
Page 1;
Page 2;
Page 3;
Page 4
HOSE - Nursery Group Entry and Exit Tracking Summative Sheets
Planning, Observation Blank Formats (contact the Early Years Team for a copy of these on CD, Tel: 01274 43 1813).
Newly qualified teachers and practitioners who are new to the Foundation Stage
Bradford Council can offer you support through Advisory Teacher input and the following essential training courses:
Provision
Introduction to Quality Provision in the Foundation Stage
Assessment
- Using observation as an assessment tool
- The Foundation Stage Profile (this course guides reception class practitioners through the statutory assessment at the end of the Foundation Stage).
Communication and Language
Every Child a Talker – Record of Early Language and Communication, has replaced the Expressive Language Record as a means of tracking all children’s language development and it supports practitioners to identify those children at risk of delay. This resource is being distributed through training, please contact the Advisory Teacher/Early Years Consultant in your locality for further details.
- Training Courses
Hands on Learning
Hands on Learning is a series of documents designed to support the development of high quality provision and practice within all early years settings. The series includes; Hands on Self Evaluation, Hands on Transition, and the latest in the series My Learning Picture.
Hands on Learning (PDF 6,608KB)
The Times of our Lives (PDF 4,715 KB)
Hands on Under 3 (PDF 3,417 KB) - Loving, Learning and Developing
Every setting should have copies of these documents, which should stay with the setting if the practitioner move to a new position. This also applies to other documents such as Every Child a Talker – Record of Early Language and Communication. Additional copies of Hands on Learning series are available from the Early Years team.
Early Years Foundation Stage Newsletter
Our Early Years Foundation Stage Newsletter is regularly sent out to all settings. It provides information for practitioners on recent developments and updates that are happening nationally and around the district.
The Foundation Stage Forum
The Foundation Stage Forum is a national online community, set up to bring together nursery practitioners, reception teachers and other professionals involved in the Foundation Stage.
Website: www.foundation-stage.info
Email: info@foundation-stage.info
Tel: 01273 480015
For frequently asked questions on:
Promoting continuity for children; Children’s Centres; Foundation Stage Profile; Playing with Sounds; Foundation Stage Units.
Go to http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/earlyyears
