The Early Years Foundation Stage - a timeline
Friday, April 27, 2012
It's fair to say the EYFS has generated more headlines than anything else published in Nursery World during the past few years.
Here are just a handful of our stories, leading up to the publication of the revised framework at the end of March.
2008
Balls backs EYFS as it makes the statute books (4 September)
The framework becomes statutory and is launched by Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, at Fellowship House Children's Centre in Newham, London.
2009
Extend EYFS to age six and scrap KS1, says Cambridge Review (22 October)
The Early Years Foundation Stage should be extended to age six and Key Stage One should be abolished, says the final independent report from the Cambridge Primary Review.
2010
Government unveils wide-ranging review of the Early Years Foundation Stage (6 July)
Children's minister Sarah Teather launches a review of the EYFS, to consider whether the framework is too bureaucratic and how to shift the focus on to getting children ready for education and on improving the attainment of those children who come from deprived backgrounds.
The review will be carried out by Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action for Children and will focus on ensuring that standards that support young children's learning are based on the latest research.
Funding, not EYFS, is the main problem, say nurseries (14 July)
Nurseries and early years organisations tell Nursery World that resolving issues with the Early Years Single Funding Formula and suspending the Code of Practice are more urgent for the Government than reviewing the EYFS.
Government launches consultation on EYFS review (2 August)
Nurseries, childminders, parents, and experts are urged to contribute to the review, which will cover four main key areas - the scope of regulation, learning and development, assessment, and welfare.
Practitioners want EYFS left as it is (8 September)
Institute of Education study commissioned by former DCSF finds 'overwhelming satisfaction with the current requirements', but notes criticisms of the framework's implementation.
2011
The key points in an interview with Dame Clare Tickell (30 March)
Nursery World exclusive interview with the chair of the EYFS review. 'The Early Years Foundation Stage is a success story,' says Dame Clare. 'There's a huge amount of support for it, that came through in the call for evidence.'
Early years sector gives EYFS review a warm welcome (30 March)
The early years sector gives an overwhelmingly positive response to Dame Clare's recommendations.
'Slimmed down' EYFS and payment by results for Sure Start children's centres (6 July)
Proposals for a revised EYFS are put out for consultation.
Mixed welcome for revised EYFS (12 July)
Early years expert Helen Moylett says the worst omission is that of the 'characteristics of effective teaching and learning'.
Also, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, questions the concept of 'school readiness'.
The National Childminding Association welcomes the decision that all childminders will continue to be included in the EYFS.
Foundation Years: Government wants new covenant with early years providers (25 July)
Ministers propose a new way of working, building on the 'co-production' process, in order to draw up a 'covenant' between the early years sector, the DfE and local authorities.
The Government publishes Supporting Families in the Foundation Years, a joint policy statement between education and health, setting out reforms for early years education and the workforce. It is the Government's official response to Frank Field's poverty review, two reports by Graham Allen on early intervention, and Dame Clare's review of the EYFS.
Sector raises concerns about revised EYFS (4 October)
The National Day Nurseries Association says its members believe the EYFS has made a positive contribution, reinforcing high-quality provision for children, but they are concerned about a lack of focus on under-threes and the impact of implementing the framework within a tight timescale.
Revised EYFS rejected by leading research centre (18 October)
Pen Green, the research centre appointed by the DfE to raise standards in early years settings, 'rejects' the revised EYFS.
Second consultation on early learning goals (20 December)
The DfE makes what it calls 'substantive changes' to the mathematics and literacy goals, in response to feedback from the sector, and launches a month-long consultation on proposed changes to some parts of the learning and development requirements set out in the revised EYFS.
The department publishes a formal Government response to the revised EYFS, after receiving more than 2,300 responses to the revised draft of the framework.
2012
Campaigners to draw up alternative EYFS (7 February)
A new group, Early Childhood Action, made up of academics and practitioners will draft an alternative early years curriculum, amid concerns that the review of the EYFS does not go far enough in reforming the current early years framework.
Revised Early Years Foundation Stage: new framework is out (27 March)
The new framework will take effect from 1 September 2012.
- To read these stories in full and more Big Issue: Review of the Early Years Foundation Stage
