The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) outlines what Early Years providers must do to help children learn and develop and to be healthy and safe.
What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage
This guide is designed to help parents and carers understand their child’s development from birth to age five. It explains what to expect at each stage and how practitioners support children’s learning in early years settings.
What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents [PDF, 6MB]
Structure of the EYFS framework
The EYFS is built around seven areas of learning and development. These areas are used to plan activities and assess progress:
- communication and language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
- literacy
- mathematics
- understanding the world
- expressive arts and design
Developmental milestones
The guide outlines typical developmental milestones across different age bands. These are not checklists but indicators to help understand how children may grow and learn.
Age bands include:
- birth to three years
- three to four years
- four to five years (Reception year)
Role of parents and carers
Parents are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s learning. The guide offers suggestions for everyday activities that support development.
Examples of supportive activities include:
- talking and listening to your child
- reading together regularly
- encouraging play and exploration
- supporting independence and self-care
Working with practitioners
The guide explains how early years practitioners observe and assess children’s progress. It also describes how settings share information with parents and work together to support learning.
Inclusion and diversity
The EYFS framework recognises that every child is unique. Practitioners adapt their approach to meet individual needs, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Download - What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage guide [PDF, 6MB]