Autumn 2008 has seen the introduction of new statutory legislation requiring all Ofsted-registered childcare providers in both the state and private sectors to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS). All providers, be they childminders or nursery schools, are required to use the EYFS to ensure that whatever setting parents choose, they can be confident that their child will receive a quality experience that supports their development and learning. The framework spans 69 writing, counting and problem-solving skills targets for children under the age of five, and government ministers insist that the compulsory regime will ensure that all children get a good start in their education.
What might this mean for relocating families and their choice of nursery school or childcare? Anne Stewart is assistant principal and an early childhood expert at ACS Cobham International School. She is overseeing the implementation of the framework in the international-school context and, in broad terms, welcomes the initiative – with the proviso that it stays true to its stated principles of learning through play and developmentally appropriate activities.
Ms Stewart says, “The new framework recommends a learning-through-play approach to early years education. This educational philosophy, supported by international research, has always been fundamental to ACS’s approach. We believe that a structured, play-based approach is important to a child’s intellectual development; for example, we use water play to help children learn about concepts such as volume, problem solving, prediction and co-operation.”
In the majority of areas, experienced providers will take the EYFS as a baseline, and pre-existing teaching approaches will go above and beyond the statutory targets.
