EYFS Review: Early Years curriculum slimmed down to aid child learning

Thursday, July 7th, 2011
Sarah Teather talks about the EYFS Review

Government sets out reform of early learning and children’s centres

A new, slimmed down early years curriculum for 0-5s, more focused on making sure children start school ready and able to learn, will be introduced next year under changes set out by Children’s Minister Sarah Teather.

Responding to the Tickell Review of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the new framework radically reduces the number of early learning goals from 69 to 17. It also focuses on three prime areas of learning critical to making sure children have the foundations for school, and introduces a progress check for every 2 year old in early education so parents and professionals can be confident children are developing well.

As part of wider reforms to Sure Start children’s centres and early learning, the Government is looking at ways to get parents and communities more involved in running children’s centres. New plans to be consulted on will also make it easier for parents to plan and balance their working lives by making the free entitlement to 15 hours of early learning and childcare more flexible.
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NDNA members urge Government to ‘Avoid huge change’ with EYFS

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Purnima TanukuNational Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has announced that initial research with its nursery members has revealed that the majority do not wish to see large-scale change with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). However, one of the key areas that nurseries have said needs addressing is the level of red-tape under the framework.

NDNA has conducted research with a focussed group of nurseries in England who represented a total of over 400 settings to gather initial feedback following the announcement of the review. This will be supported by national consultation events on 29 September in Leeds and 30 September in London so that members can attend to debate the review and feed into NDNA’s response on behalf of the sector. However, this initial research exercise has revealed a high level of support for the EYFS, with 83% saying that they felt that the EYFS supported children to get the best start. NDNA has already shared some of these initial findings with those leading the review prior to submitting a full response.
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EYFS targets frustrating, says study

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Engagement with childrenPractitioners using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) often find assessing children’s communication, language and literacy levels a cause of “tension and frustration”.

A study commissioned by the former Department for Children, Schools and Families and published under the current government, found that among practitioners, there was “criticism of the levels required” by the communication, language and literacy, problem solving, and reasoning and numeracy goals.

But the Practitioners’ Experience of EYFS concluded that the framework does receive high levels of support from all practitioner groups.
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Government presses ahead with nursery education code of practice and Early Years Single Funding Formula

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Nursery news - Free entitlementThe Code of Practice on the free entitlement to nursery education will be implemented from September, the Government has confirmed, despite pre-election promises by the Conservatives to suspend it.

The news will come as a blow to some nursery owners who were hoping the Tories would fulfil their pledge to postpone the Code and allow settings to charge top-up fees.

A Government spokesperson said, ‘The new Code of Practice will come into force in September, to ensure that local authorities are working to a clear common framework in implementing the extension to 15 hours. However, we will be looking to streamline this guidance next year.’

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Surrey on target to boost male childcare workforce

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Male childcare workersSurrey County Council is on course to bolster the number of men it employs in its nurseries, according to the latest figures.

The council’s campaign to improve the “gender imbalance” in the sector has attracted 3,000 visitors to a dedicated childcare jobs website aimed at men.

Of these, 100 calls from men interested in working in nurseries have been received and 37 men have attended an information session on working in the childcare sector.
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