The Early Years Foundation Stage provides a framework for ensuring standards which will enable children to learn and develop well while being kept healthy and safe.

"It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children's 'school readiness' and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life." (Statutory Framework p.2)

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities

Communication and Language Development

giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations

Physical Development

providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement; children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food

Literacy

encouraging children to link sounds and letters and begin to read and write; children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest

Mathematics

providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measures

Understanding the World

guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment

Expressive Arts and Design

enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology