The Early Years Foundation Stage

1st Stepping Stones Nursery The Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a framework for children up to the age of five, setting out seven key areas of learning around which activities are based.

  • The prime areas are:
  • Physical development
  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Communication and language

The specific areas are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding of the world
Expressive arts and design


There are also four guiding principles which shape the practice within our setting:

  • Unique child – every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
  • Positive relationships – Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
  • Enabling environments – Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parent/carers.
  • Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in Early Years provision, including children with special education needs and disabilities.

A variety of activities are provided daily to support children’s progress and development in all seven areas of learning. We work together with parents to ensure that each child reaches their full potential. We also use a range of teaching methods to support children with adopting learning methods and put what they have learnt into practice.