Revised Statutory Framework for the EYFS – Readiness For School??

Having been heartened by what I heard from Dame Clare Tickell on the review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, about there been a focus on primary skills, the need for professionals to have a good understanding of child development and the removal of bureaucracy, I was most concerned to the referral in the recommendations to “School Readiness”.

As we are all aware, statements such as these are open to interpretation and there is a lack of clarity of what is meant by the term in the intended framework. Does this merely mean we are preparing children for reception class?. Having spent a huge proportion of my career working within the Early Years Foundation Stage, I spent much of my time explaining to parents and colleagues that in early years, we have to value where each child is at and work from there. The Early Years is far more than preparing our youngest children for school, is it not?. There are many other controversial statements within the recommendations which again are open to interpretation.

Please take the opportunity to read the recommendations and form opinions of your own. You have until September 30th to respond to the consultation. So please, have a voice and be part of this important change for our youngest children. Visit www.education.gov.uk, scroll down to consultations and double click on Consultation on a Revised Early Years Foundation Stage’

Clare Lord is an Early Years specialist and director of Early Foundations. She offers a range of consultancy and training services, please visit her website for further details: www.earlyfoundations.co.uk