What is the EYFS?

It is a framework which shapes high standards of practice. At our nurseries we embrace the EYFS wholeheartedly, from activities, resources and staff training through to policies, procedures and management. A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future life chances.

The Nursery follows a structure of learning, development and care for children from birth to five years old. This is called the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and it enables your child to learn through a range of activities.

EYFS seeks to ensure that we provide the level of care which means parents can be confident that their child will receive a quality experience that supports their development and learning.

The EYFS principles that guide the work of the Nursery are grouped into four themes and are as follows:

A Unique Child every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive Relationships children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a keyperson
Enabling Environments the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.
Learning and Development children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.


There are six areas of Learning and Development, which help us to observe, plan and assess your child’s activities, based on their individual development and needs.

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication, Language and Literacy
  • Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
  • Knowledge and Understanding of the World
  • Physical Development
  • Creative Development


This approach ensures that the EYFS meets the overarching aim of improving outcomes and reflects that it is every child's right to grow up safe; healthy; enjoying and achieving; making a position contribution; and with economic well-being.

Read more about the Early Years framework.