What your child will learn

In early years settings, most learning happens through play. There will be particular equipment, materials and activities designed to stimulate children's learning. Staff will be observing to see how your child develops across the different areas of the early years curriculum.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Early years education is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) that covers the stage up to the end of reception class. All early years settings that receive state funding must follow the EYFS curriculum.

The early years curriculum tracks a child's progress in different areas, and can show if a child's development is uneven. The curriculum caters for all children, including disabled children. It is delivered through planned, purposeful play and mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities. Each child will have a key person to monitor their progress.

Areas of the curriculum

The EYFS curriculum has three prime areas:

• communication and language
• physical development
• personal, social and emotional development and four specific areas:
  • literacy
  • mathematics
  • understanding the world
  • expressive art and design.