Getting Ready for the Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage is now compulsory. The Early Years Foundation Stage (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 parents choose, 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 telephoning 0845 6022260 and quoting ref 0012-2007PCK-EN.
The BEYCP Early Years Foundation Stage Team are here to develop and consolidate high quality practice in all 0-4 settings through support and training.
Newly qualified teachers and practitioners who are new to the Foundation Stage
BEYCP 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
- An introduction to Bradford’s Language and Assessment Programme:
- Communication and Language in the Foundation Stage
- 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 which is available now as a draft document.
Every setting should have copies of these documents. These documents belong to the setting and should stay in the setting if practitioners move to a new position. This also applies to other BEYCP documents such as Communication and Language in the Foundation Stage Volume 1 & 2.
Additional copies of Hands on Learning series are available from BEYCP for Bradford.
Early Years Foundation Stage Newsletter
Our Early Years Foundation Stage Newsletter is regularly sent out to all settings. It provides the practitioner with 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.
www.foundation-stage.info
Email: info@foundation-stage.info
Phone: 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 www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/faqs/foundation-stage
