New early years foundation stage framework
From September 2021, all early years providers must follow the new early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework.
The key aims of the reforms are to:
Improve child outcomes at age 5, particularly in early language and literacy, especially for disadvantaged children and reduce workload, such as unnecessary paperwork, so that practitioners can spend more time interacting with the children in their care.
To support the implementation of the revised EYFS, the Department for Education has developed a new online service for private, voluntary and independent early years settings and childminders.
This service provides resources, advice and support to help practitioners to understand the requirements for each area of learning and development and what these requirements mean in practice. The new service is now live on gov.uk and can be accessed here – Prepare for changes to the early years foundation stage framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We encourage you to use this online service to support your planning and implementation of the EYFS reforms from September 2021.
Early Years Inspection Handbook
This week Ofsted published its updated Early Years Inspection Handbook for inspections taking place from 1 September 2021 in England.
Early years and childcare providers can refer to the inspection handbook to learn more about how Ofsted inspectors will carry out their inspections and judgements from September under the education inspection framework (EIF).
The four major changes to the handbook include:
- Changes to the EYFS disapplications in relation to Covid-19
- A new section on revisions to the EYFS from 1 September 2021
- A new section to dispel myths about inspection that can result in unnecessary workload for providers
- Updated grade descriptors