The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

What is the EYFS?
The EYFS is a framework for children from birth to age 5. The purpose behind it is to improve the quality of early years practise so that children receive the best care and education possible. It ensures a consistent approach to care, learning and development.  This means that which ever child care setting your child attends – playgroup, nursery school, childminder or reception class- they will all be following the EYFS.

The aims of the EYFS
The aims of the EYFS is to help young children achieve the 5 ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well-being.

How do we use it?
The EYFS underpins all of our work with children at Little Hands. The EYFS has 4 themes - a unique child; positive relationships; enabling environments; learning and development. This is what we do within these themes:

A unique child-we believe that every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured. We treat every child as an individual and tailor provision to meet their own unique needs and interests.

Positive relationships- we know that children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with their parents and other significant adults in their lives. We help parents build on this through the courses and workshops we offer. While children are in the crèche we ensure that they feel safe and cared for.

Enabling environments-we know that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. We are very proud of the environment we provide at Little Hands. The equipment is bright, clean and appropriate for the needs and interests of young children. Our playroom has direct access into the garden area so that children can enjoy exciting learning activities in all weathers. We also have a wildlife garden for children to experience with their parents/carers.

Learning and Development- we know that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. We make sure that our resources and activities meet the children’s needs and offer sufficient challenge so that optimum learning takes place. All children who regularly attend Little Hands have their own ‘Learning journey’ book that records their learning and development during the times that they are at the Centre. 

For details about our groups and courses see our activities calendar for dates and times or contact us for more information.