The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a term defined in Section 39 of the British government's Childcare Act 2006. The EYFS comprises a set of Welfare Requirements and a set of Learning and Development Requirements, which must be followed by providers of care for children below 5 years old – the age of compulsory education in the United Kingdom. The Welfare and Learning and Development requirements are not specified in the Act but in separate Orders
The legislation took effect from September 2008. The Welfare requirements apply to the whole of the UK, but the Learning and Development requirements apply only in England.
All childcare providers, including childminders, nurseries, kindergartens and pre-school classes, are obliged to register under the Childcare Act in order to operate legally. To become and remain registered they must comply with the Welfare requirements, and with the L&D requirements for settings in England (except where exempted).
The Learning and Development requirements (applicable in England only) are unusual in principle in imposing compulsory educational targets
- for children below the age of compulsory education, and
- on providers outside the state system and not receiving state funding.
Read more about Early Years Foundation Stage: Learning and Development Requirements Controversy, Exemptions, Campaigns Against EYFS
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