EYFS under review

The Department for Education has today announced details of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum review which will be led by Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive of the children’s charity, Action for Children.
 
The previous Labour Government had committed to undertaking a review of EYFS two years after its introduction in 2008, and this commitment is being kept by the new Coalition Government.
 
Dame Clare will provide a final report in spring 2011. The Government will then consult on any proposed changes before they take effect from September 2012.
 
The review will cover four main areas:

  • scope of regulation – whether there should be one single framework for all Early Years providers.
  • learning and development – looking at the latest evidence about children’s development and what is needed to give them the best start at school.
  • assessment – whether young children’s development should be formally assessed at a certain age, and what this should cover.
  • welfare – the minimum standards to keep children safe and support their healthy development. 

 

You can read the full press release on the Department for Education website.

 

Following the announcement, a comment has been issue from Liz Bayram, Joint Chief Executive:

 

"NCMA welcomes the Government's announcement that it will be undertaking a review of the EYFS over the next year, to ensure that the framework continues to drive up the quality of childcare and early learning that children receive. Evidence from Ofsted inspections in the last year shows that more registered childminders than ever are achieving good or outstanding grades under EYFS and we know that high-quality childcare improves outcomes for all children, helping them reach their full potential.

 

"The EYFS was set up as a framework to be interpreted by practitioners and adapted to deliver in their settings, not to judge children against. Many registered childminders have been able to make minimal adjustments to the great work they were already doing to meet these requirements. Ofsted’s self-evaluation process is helping them to demonstrate at inspection how they are delivering EYFS without the need for significant additional paperwork.  We have worked hard over the last 18 months to ensure registered childminders deliver the EYFS without feeling they need to  produce large amounts of paperwork to monitor a child’s development.

 

"There is, of course, always room for improvement and we look forward to discussing this with the Department for Education. This dialogue will be based on the fact our elected forum of NCMA members have told us that they believe the EYFS should be kept a statutory requirement. This is because they are successfully delivering it within their settings - and because it gives them the ability to demonstrate to parents their professionalism and that they are providing the same high-quality care and learning as other registered providers."

 

Page last updated: 9/8/2010