EYFS Books and Resources: Taking stock

NEW DOCUMENTS

The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage www.foundationyears.org.uk and www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/a0068102/ early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs.

Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage www.foundationyears.org.uk and www.early-education.org.uk.

EYFS progress check at two. A Know How Guide www.foundationyears.org.uk and via www.ncb.org.uk/ey/resources/EYFS.

• Bound copies of Development Matters, on good-quality paper with card covers, from Early Education for £5.75 each, inc p&p (www.early-education.org.uk; tel: 020 7539 5400).

• National Day Nurseries Association (www.ndna.org.uk) is selling a spiral bound copy of the Statutory Framework plus Development Matters for £9.50 inc p&p.

STILL TO COME

EYFS for Parents will be published in the summer. This document, by 4Children, will provide parents and carers with an overview of the new framework and illustrate how they can support their children's learning and development.

The new EYFS Profile Handbook will be published by the Standards and Testing Agency in autumn 2012. The Profile will be trialled this spring and summer.

OTHER RESOURCES

More information and resources, including the current EYFS guidance, all the National Strategies materials and Birth to Three Matters, a former framework for supporting the under-threes, is available at: foundationyears.org.uk. Practitioners would be well advised to hold on to their current EYFS documents, in particular the 16 Principles into Practice cards.

Further materials relating to the Progress Check at Two can be found via www.ncb.org.uk/ey/resources/EYFS.

Details of NCB's training in parental engagement, PEAL, www.peal.org.uk.

The Early Support developmental journal is being revised in line with the EYFS (see pages 26-27).

Early Education is producing Understanding the Revised Early Years Foundation Stage, due out in May, which will include a copy of the Statutory Framework (£15.00 inc p&p from www.early-education.org.uk or tel: 020 7539 5400).

The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning - An independent report on the Early Years Foundation Stage to her Majesty's Government by Dame Clare Tickell is worth revisiting when reflecting on how to implement the new EYFS www.education.gov.uk/tickellreview.

Supporting Families in the Foundation Years. The Government sets out its vision for the services that should be on offer for families and provides the context for the revised EYFS www.education.gov.uk.

Building Futures, Believing in Children: A focus on provision for black children in the EYFS and Building Futures, Developing Trust: A focus on provision for children from Gypsy, Roma and traveller families in the EYFS. www.4children.org.uk.

Ofsted offers a range of downloadable good practice resources based on case studies www.ofsted.gov.uk.

BOOKS AND DVDs

The New EYFS in Practice by Ann Langston and Jonathan Doherty (Featherstone Books, £18.99, ISBN 9781408163948, published 25 October 2012). With the new EYFS in its infancy, this provides vital information and practical advice.

Is Your EYFS on Track? Self Evaluation Starts with Celebration by Terry Gould (Featherstone Education, £14.39, ISBN 978-1408163979, published 11 October 2012). All about evaluating the effectiveness of an early years setting.

The EYFS: A Practical Guide for Students and Professionals, Endorsed by CACHE by Vicky Hutchin (Hodder Education, £13.59, ISBN 978-1444157413, published 29 June 2012).Each chapter explains a key theme of the EYFS including observation and assessment, planning, effective practice and points for reflection.

Good Practice in the Early Years by Janet Kay (Continuum, £18.99, ISBN 978-1444157413). This third edition includes chapters on current key issues for early years practitioners such as inclusion, child protection and participation.

Creating a Learning Environment for Babies and Toddlers by Ann Clare (Sage, £17.59, ISBN 9780857027696). The author focuses on the experiences of babies and toddlers in various care settings, and the role adults play in developing creative and supportive environments.

Penny Tassoni's Practical EYFS Handbook by Penny Tassoni (Heinemann, £16.14, ISBN 9780435899910, published September 2012). A second edition of this popular guide to successfully implementing the EYFS.

A Practical Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage by Miranda Walker (Nelson Thornes, £14.99, ISBN 9781408515396, published August 2012). A comprehensive guide with practical activities linked to the revised framework. Also includes vital information about inspections.

How Children Learn: The characteristics of effective early learning by Nancy Stewart (Early Education, £17.50, ISBN 9780904187564). This book gets to the heart of what child-centredness really means and why it matters. Highly relevant to the revised EYFS.

A wide range of DVDs including All About Attachment, All About Communication, The Observation Series and Life At Two Pack from Siren Films www.sirenfilms.co.uk.

NURSERY WORLD: HELPING YOU PREPARE

In the countdown to September, we will be drawing on the expertise of specialists within the early years sector to launch new series and commission specific articles to help you implement the new framework with confidence.

Series that we have run so far about the revised EYFS include:

• Implications for planning, observation and assessment: a four-part guide to the revised EYFS by Ann Langston, director of Early Years Matters consultancy and a former adviser with National Strategies (www.nurseryworld.co.uk/go/revised_eyfs/)

• How children learn - a three-part guide to the Characteristics of Effective Learning by Jan Dubiel, national development manager Early Excellence

• School readiness - a three-part guide by David Whitebread and Sue Bingham of the University of Cambridge (www.nurseryworld.co.uk/go/school_readiness/)

• Practitioner role - a four-part guide by early years adviser Julie Fisher

'Enhance Active Learning When Working with Under-Threes', DVD box set by Alice Sharp, www.developingunderthrees.com.