Early Years Education : The Provision Of Care, Development And Learning From Birth

These are stand alone schools for children ages 3 to 4 years old. Some have their own head teacher and trained nursery staff, and may be state funded; however there are also privately run nursery schools.

In Northern Ireland pupils in years 1 & 2 are in foundation stage and Key stage 1 consists of years 3 and 4and Key stage 2 consists of 5 and 6.

Nursery schools are stand-alone schools for children aged three and four. They have their own head teacher and staff. Some are state-funded and others are privately run.

An example of a statutory provision for children under 5 years is a nursery. A nursery helps children learn to communicate, reach a certain level of independency and helps the children understand the stuff e.g. numbers, colours, fruits, animals etc. It also allows children to learn new things in a fun environment and at their own pace. A nursery helps to get children into a routine of a classroom. Nurseries often have designated times for different activities and helps the children learn the patience for sitting still and listening in a group.

The Childcare Act 2006 which is about duties on local authorities, regulation and inspection for childcare providers in England and other general provisions, could undoubtedly be an excellent foundation for a good quality service for young children.

It sets out welfare and developmental aims and objectives for children from birth to five, setting out six key areas of learning. The welfare section covers; basic checks, ensuring staff has undergone security checks, safe facilities and equipment, suitable for children, quality of the environment e.g. access to outdoor space. The EYFS promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are ready for school and gives them a wide range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for them and to ensure that they make good progress through school and life in the future.

The ‘Children’s Act 2004’ was continuously updated and developed into the ‘Children’s Act 2006’. This act states that all settings have to follow the Early Years Framework Stages (which were renewed in 2012). The Early Years Framework Stages (EYFS) is aimed to fulfil the five aims of ‘every child matters’ and the previous children’s act of 2004. The intentions are to achieve these aims by setting standards, promote equal opportunities and through a framework of partnerships, improve quality and consistency and lay secure foundation for all learning and development, present and future. By improving the quality the service and experiences are improved for all children and families. Safeguarding children is a vital part of improving all childcare services/settings.

Families have many choices for childcare, ranging from in-home care, a childcare facility, an after school program or a

in 2008, in the hope that it would enhance children’s development in all early years settings. It was then made law and legal requirements were put in place on nursery practitioners to make sure that standards that the framework has set out are being met. There are four main acts covering the legal status of the EYFS are:

As part of the Childcare Act 2006 and every child matters, all 3 and 4 year old children in England are able to receive free, part time early years education, up to 15 hours per week, for a school year of 38 weeks per year. Early year’s education follows the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance which was simplified in September 2012 and the Government funds local

Striving to provide high quality childcare provisions that support children’s development to reach their potential.

In England, pre-school and nursery education is provided for within a wide range of settings including all pre-school groups, play groups , nursery centers, day nurseries, nursery schools and reception classes ( children aged 4-5 years) in primary schools.

Day nurseries and playgroups are available to the younger aged under 3 yrs. When a child reaches the age of 4 yrs or 5 yrs they will then most likely begin their education in a school setting, as part of a reception class in a primary school.

As part of the Childcare Act 2006 and Every Child Matters every 3-4 year old is entitled to receive free part time education for 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year. At this time government funding was made available to ensure that every child gets 2 years free education before school age.

There are free pre-schools which are run by the local authorities that children can attend for 3 hours a day once they have turned 3 or if children are already in a day nursery then they will have 15 hours a week deducted off their bill the term after the child turns 3. The day nursery has to follow the strict guidelines set out by Every Child Matters and Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum as do the local authority pre-schools.