EYFS
International Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
At ChildSol, we wholeheartedly embrace our purpose: to serve as a beacon of quality education, safety, and joyous growth for children, parents, and staff. This commitment drives our deliberate adoption of international best practices, enabling us to achieve the ambitious outcomes we aspire to. Our choice to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is not a mere coincidence; it reflects our unwavering dedication to excellence.
Our teaching approach is designed along the four overarching Principles of the EYFS:
Unique Child
Every child is a unique learner with the potential to grow into a resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured person.
Positive Relationships
Through positive relationships, children grow to be strong, independent, and confident in their abilities.
Enabling Environment
Children thrive, learn, and develop best when they are nurtured in a positive and supportive environment.
Learning and Development
Since children develop and learn at their own pace, fostering a supportive culture of learning and growth is essential.
What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
Children learn and develop at a faster rate from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives, so their experiences in early years have a major impact on their future life chances, (EYFS 2023). The EYFS framework is designed for children from birth to five years old, focusing on their holistic development through structured learning and play-based activities. It encompasses seven areas of learning and development, ensuring each child receives the essential building blocks for future success in school and beyond.
The EYFS is the Benchmark standard for the United Kingdom. Initially introduced in 2008, the EYFS has undergone various refinements through collaborated research by the British Government and child care professionals. These efforts have resulted in the most recent version of the EYFS published in December 2023, effective January 2024.
Evolution of the EYFS
Three Sections of the EYFS
Section 1: Learning and Development
This section describes how ChildSol nurtures children across the seven development areas of the EYFS framework. The first three development areas are concerned with a child’s brain development and are called Prime Areas. The other four are called Specific Areas and these encompass the targeted aspects of a child’s development beyond the foundational prime areas and are informed by each child’s individual needs and interests. ChildSol develops and designs various educational programmes that encourage learning by igniting the child’s curiosity and enthusiasm considering each child’s individuality and uniqueness.
Development Areas
- Communication and Language: Developing speaking, listening, and understanding skills.
- Physical Development: Promoting fine and gross motor skills through active play.
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: Nurturing self-confidence, social interactions, and emotional well-being.
- Literacy: Encouraging reading and writing skills through stories, rhymes, and activities.
- Mathematics: Introducing numbers, shapes, patterns, and simple calculations.
- Understanding the World: Exploring people, communities, technology, and the environment.
- Expressive Arts and Design: Encouraging creativity through art, music, dance, and role-play.
Section 2: Assessment
The EYFS framework informs our assessment procedures. Through assessments, we assist parents and relevant practitioners to recognise a child’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support.
This process does not require excessive paperwork, and our trained teachers draw on their knowledge of the child and their own expert professional judgement. We keep parents up to date on their child’s progress and development. ChildSol addresses further learning and development needs in partnership with the parents, as well as through our network of relevant professionals such as Speech Therapists, ENT Specialists and others.
Through ongoing assessment, our trained teachers gain an understanding of each child’s interest, knowledge and capabilities and use this to shape teaching and learning experiences reflecting that knowledge. We conduct a critical progress check when a child is between two and three, where we review their progress and provide parents a written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas. Beyond the prime areas, ChildSol has a standard assessment framework which reflects the development level and needs of each child.
The Benefits of The Assessment Procedures
Section 3: Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
Children learn best when they are healthy, safe, secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them (EYFS 2024). These guidelines help ChildSol create a high-quality, welcoming, and safe setting where children can enjoy learning and grow in confidence. We have taken the necessary steps to safeguard children’s safety and wellness by ensuring the suitability of all adults who encounter them, promoting good health, managing behaviour, and maintaining records, policies and procedures.
Benefits of the EYFS in the South African Context
We embrace the EYFS as a cornerstone of our early childhood education approach. Here are numerous benefits tailored to the South African context:
- Comprehensive Development: EYFS ensures comprehensive development across cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds, respecting and celebrating diversity.
- School Readiness: Prepares children for a smooth transition to formal schooling, aligning with South Africa’s educational standards.
- Quality Assurance:: Provides a structured framework that guarantees high standards of care, education, and developmental outcomes.
- Parental Engagement: Fosters strong partnerships with parents, empowering them to support their child’s learning and development effectively.