Editor's view - The review of the Early Years Foundation Stage

'There is much to be proud of ...', says Dame Clare Tickell in her eagerly-awaited review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, published this week, reflecting the views of the majority of the early years sector about the current framework.

And, at the time of writing this, the first signs are that there is also much to be proud of in the work of Dame Clare and her review team in coming up with recommendations that can build on the successes of the EYFS so far. There are some suggestions for amendments that would be significant, without causing huge upheaval and disruption for a workforce that has faced much change and challenge in the past few years.

The review is wide-ranging, but the recommendations about the curriculum will probably be seized on most eagerly by practitioners. The controversial Development Matters statements would stay, although in a simplified and slimmed down form. The 69 early learning goals will be reduced to 17. The major proposal is to split the six areas of learning and development into 'Prime' and 'Specific'.

Those considered 'Prime' would be personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, and physical development. 'Specific' - a term that may cause unease - involves literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. Most important is the separation of literacy from the prime area of communication and language, potentially removing some pressure for inappropriate practice.

How will this sit with the Coalition Government's emphasis on phonics and reading tests at six? You suspect education secretary Michael Gove may find that proposal hard to swallow!