The Importance Of Early Years Education

Thanks to the Every Child Matters and the Childcare Act 2006 all 3 and 4 years olds in England receive free part-time (12 ½ per week) for 38 weeks a year. This is government funded and the idea is for all children to have 2 years of free education before they even start school.

How the range of early years setting reflects the scope and purpose of the sector.

In England, pre-school and nursery education is provided for within a wide range of settings including all pre-school groups, play groups , nursery centers, day nurseries, nursery schools and reception classes ( children aged 4-5 years) in primary schools.

As part of the Childcare Act 2006 and Every Child Matters every 3-4 year old is entitled to receive free part time education for 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year. At this time government funding was made available to ensure that every child gets 2 years free education before school age.

Every child who on the term commencing after their 3rd Birthday is entitled to a free part time place in early years education. This was formed as part of the Every Child Matters agenda. From 0-5 years the framework of learning, development & care forms the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which follows the following principles:

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a structure in place for the learning and development of children from birth to five years old, for which all schools and early years providers must follow. The purpose of the EYFS is to allow

The early years curriculum that supports children's care learning and development is the foundation phase. Foundation phase promotes learning through play. There are 7 areas of learning that consists of:

The purpose and legal status of the early years frameworks and how it relates to achievement of the Every Child Matters Outcomes (Unit 12 – criteria 1.1) (Unit 13 – criteria 1.2)

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was implemented in England in 2008 and applies to all children aged 0-5. This new curriculum combined existing government ideas regarding the care of under 5s including the 'Every Child Matters' (ECM) policy: children's services have to respond to 5 outcomes for all children from birth to 18: being

5. The EYFS will be given legal force through an Order and Regulations made under the Childcare Act 2006. From September 2008 it will be mandatory for all schools and providers in Ofsted registered settings attended by young children – that is children from birth to end of the academic year in which a child has his or her fifth birthday. The term “early years provider” includes maintained schools, non-maintained schools, independent schools, and childcare registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, all of which are required to meet the EYFS requirements. .

Theories of development and frameworks to support development are incredibly important to us working with children and young people. They help us to understand children, how they react to things/situations, their behaviour and the ways they learn. Different theories and ways of working with children have come together to provide frameworks for children’s care, such as Early year’s foundation stage (EYFS) which is used within all child care settings. This encourages us to work together, help and check the development of babies, children and young people, to keep them healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to

Nursery schools are stand-alone schools for children aged three and four. They have their own head teacher and staff. Some are state-funded and others are privately run.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework that sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are ready for school and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills t hat provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. The Early years foundation stage was introduced in 2008 and sets out one standard framework for learning, development and care for all children from birth to the foundation year.

Early childhood education is for children from the ages three to eight years old. In this field there are four learning goals that early programs have for a young child.

Foundation Phase Education is described as teaching children from reception through to the third grade, basic reading, writing, literacy and improving thinking skills, as well as developing the child’s holistic growth which includes affective, physical, cognitive and motor developments. This job description includes planning and executing lessons, writing tests and examinations, marking, being part of cultural and sports activities. (Career Planet, 2016).