Digging deep

'The Foundation Stage was introduced as a distinct phase of education for children aged three to five in September 2000. In preparation, curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage was distributed in May 2000 to all schools with nursery and reception classes and to early years settings receiving nursery education grant funding. This sets out six areas of learning which form the basis of the Foundation Stage curriculum. These areas are: personal, social and emotional development; communication, language and literacy; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development.