193:... there may be instances where providers are temporarily unable to deliver the EYFS, but are making every effort to do so within a short period. In such circumstances, our view is that it would be disproportionate not to allow for a time-limited exemption. Similarly, there may be circumstances in which the EYFS, or some element of it, cannot be delivered for an individual child.
206:. These critics point to education systems in other countries where children start school at a later age but produce good academic results by the end of compulsory education. These media criticisms have been undermined by academic research showing that comprehensive approaches to early years education which, like the EYFS, include direct teaching of
65:
The EYFS has been periodically updated since its introduction. The latest version was published in July 2023 for implementation in
September 2023. This framework consists of three sections: The Learning and Development Requirements, Assessment and The Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements.
197:
Opponents of the EYFS have argued that some of the
Learning and Development targets are not appropriate for this age group. Opponents claimed in the media that attempting to push under-5s into early literacy is ineffective or even counterproductive, possibly even producing
173:
conducted a consultation on the EYFS Learning and
Development Exemptions, between 1 March and 24 May 2007. Respondents were invited to give their views on the circumstances accepted as possible grounds for exemption and the process by which exemptions could be obtained.
225:
Some people have also claimed that the curriculum is too prescriptive, criticising the burdensome nature of the assessments demanded of children and stress inflicted upon young children by the curriculum and assessment (as with
534:
Chambers, Bette; Cheung, Alan C.K.; Slavin, Robert E. (2016). "Literacy and language outcomes of comprehensive and developmental-constructivist approaches to early childhood education: A systematic review".
736:
571:
181:
a. Providers who lack the capacity to meet the full requirements, but should be able to do so within a specified time period, given access to the necessary support and/or training.
293:
233:
In responding to critics' submissions to the consultation, the DCSF pointed out that the EYFS is "sufficiently flexible to accommodate a range of early years approaches".
264:
39:
website: "The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5". The term was defined in the
662:
183:
b. Providers who base their provision on alternative approaches which conflict with the statutory requirements with respect to learning and development.
579:
316:
482:
399:
379:
655:
170:
886:
777:
356:
845:
332:
74:
All pupils in the Early Years must follow a programme of education in seven areas, divided into 'prime areas' and 'specific areas'.
891:
855:
800:
757:
648:
833:
222:
has found that "beginning early years education at a younger age appears to have a high positive impact on learning outcomes".
810:
828:
616:
772:
185:
c. To meet the needs of individual children in provision which otherwise provides the full EYFS to all other children.
422:
762:
726:
344:
158:
36:
752:
716:
671:
227:
219:
896:
767:
731:
721:
690:
600:
865:
101:
501:
438:
313:
466:
55:
142:
The
Childcare Act makes provision for exemptions from the Learning and development requirements for
901:
823:
795:
376:
252:
838:
805:
695:
215:
214:, and other skills along with child-initiated activities produce better outcomes than purely
59:
28:
685:
249:
199:
97:
92:
155:
Early Years
Foundation Stage (Exemptions from Learning and Development Requirements) Order
8:
189:
The DCSF response to the consultation considered the first and third circumstances only:
700:
207:
202:
in some children through the experience of early failure, and other problems including
43:
40:
552:
153:
The circumstances under which exemptions may be granted are to be stipulated in the
632:
544:
521:
454:
372:
640:
617:"Is your baby playing with its toes yet? If not the government wants to know why"
548:
505:
383:
320:
815:
418:
387:
16:
Requirements for providers of care for children under five years old in
England
880:
860:
556:
83:
850:
118:
527:
314:
DCSF EYFS Learning and
Development Exemptions consultation web page
113:
87:
51:
211:
32:
377:"Primary schools exert unnecessary pressure on students: report"
218:
approaches. Similarly, a review of the academic research by the
498:
331:
EYFS Learning and
Development Exemptions Consultation Document
131:
47:
601:"Toddler curriculum criticised by European education expert"
203:
127:
569:
294:"Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage"
265:"Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage"
368:
366:
364:
157:, which as of 20 June 2008 had not yet been laid before
406:, 28 February 2008 (on a report of the Primary Review).
361:
533:
483:"Problem caused by pushing them too much, too young"
414:
412:
349:
325:
670:
409:
355:DCSF Response to L&D Exemptions consultation
242:
878:
337:
656:
423:"Under-fives curriculum 'will harm children'"
171:Department for Children, Schools and Families
343:EYFS Learning and Development Response Form
467:"Under-sevens 'too young to learn to read'"
164:
663:
649:
386:, AFP, 8 February 2008 (on reports of the
149:children individually, under section 46(2)
274:. Department for Education. 31 March 2021
563:
439:"Doubts over progress in early learning"
257:
879:
400:"Children 'too young for school at 4'"
644:
69:
887:Child welfare in the United Kingdom
373:"England young 'among most tested'"
13:
633:"Primary children 'suffer stress'"
14:
913:
522:"England falls in reading league"
455:"UK children 'reading too early'"
375:, BBC News, 2 February 2008, and
177:The proposed circumstances were:
27:) is the statutory framework for
570:Education Endowment Foundation.
102:social and emotional development
892:Education in the United Kingdom
737:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
672:Education in the United Kingdom
626:
610:
594:
515:
492:
476:
460:
448:
432:
393:
307:
286:
220:Education Endowment Foundation
1:
524:, BBC News, 28 November 2007.
457:, BBC News, 22 November 2007.
236:
146:settings, under section 46(1)
137:
635:, BBC News, 12 October 2007.
549:10.1016/j.edurev.2016.03.003
21:Early Years Foundation Stage
7:
537:Educational Research Review
10:
918:
499:"Playing with their minds"
820:Languages of instruction
788:
745:
709:
678:
382:26 February 2008 at the
165:Consultation and Debates
108:The four specific areas:
543:. Elsevier BV: 88–111.
123:understanding the world
35:, or, as stated on the
778:International students
572:"Earlier Starting Age"
195:
187:
78:The three prime areas:
46:. The equivalents in
846:Mathematics education
806:Free school (England)
319:8 August 2007 at the
230:for older children).
191:
179:
60:Early Years Framework
29:early years education
897:Education in England
504:9 March 2008 at the
200:reading difficulties
93:physical development
41:British government's
607:, 15 November 2005.
576:Early Years Toolkit
473:, 22 November 2007.
429:, 26 February 2008.
427:The Daily Telegraph
248:Childcare Act 2006
856:Specialist schools
512:, 1 February 2008.
489:, 23 January 2008.
208:phonemic awareness
44:Childcare Act 2006
874:
873:
445:, 28 August 2007.
70:Areas of learning
909:
758:Northern Ireland
746:Higher education
722:Northern Ireland
691:Northern Ireland
665:
658:
651:
642:
641:
636:
630:
624:
623:, 14 March 2007.
614:
608:
598:
592:
591:
589:
587:
578:. Archived from
567:
561:
560:
531:
525:
519:
513:
496:
490:
480:
474:
464:
458:
452:
446:
436:
430:
416:
407:
397:
391:
370:
359:
353:
347:
341:
335:
329:
323:
311:
305:
304:
298:
290:
284:
283:
281:
279:
269:
261:
255:
246:
56:Foundation Phase
917:
916:
912:
911:
910:
908:
907:
906:
902:2008 in England
877:
876:
875:
870:
816:Grammar schools
811:Grade inflation
784:
741:
705:
674:
669:
639:
631:
627:
615:
611:
599:
595:
585:
583:
582:on 3 April 2021
568:
564:
532:
528:
520:
516:
506:Wayback Machine
497:
493:
481:
477:
465:
461:
453:
449:
437:
433:
417:
410:
398:
394:
384:Wayback Machine
371:
362:
354:
350:
342:
338:
330:
326:
321:Wayback Machine
312:
308:
296:
292:
291:
287:
277:
275:
267:
263:
262:
258:
247:
243:
239:
184:
182:
167:
140:
72:
17:
12:
11:
5:
915:
905:
904:
899:
894:
889:
872:
871:
869:
868:
863:
861:Studio schools
858:
853:
848:
843:
842:
841:
836:
831:
826:
818:
813:
808:
803:
801:Comprehensives
798:
792:
790:
786:
785:
783:
782:
781:
780:
770:
765:
760:
755:
749:
747:
743:
742:
740:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
713:
711:
707:
706:
704:
703:
698:
693:
688:
682:
680:
679:Modern systems
676:
675:
668:
667:
660:
653:
645:
638:
637:
625:
609:
593:
562:
526:
514:
491:
475:
459:
447:
431:
419:Steve Biddulph
408:
392:
388:Primary Review
360:
348:
336:
324:
306:
285:
256:
240:
238:
235:
166:
163:
151:
150:
147:
139:
136:
135:
134:
124:
121:
116:
105:
104:
95:
90:
71:
68:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
914:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
882:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
851:Maths schools
849:
847:
844:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
821:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
793:
791:
787:
779:
776:
775:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
750:
748:
744:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
714:
712:
708:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
683:
681:
677:
673:
666:
661:
659:
654:
652:
647:
646:
643:
634:
629:
622:
618:
613:
606:
602:
597:
581:
577:
573:
566:
558:
554:
550:
546:
542:
538:
530:
523:
518:
511:
507:
503:
500:
495:
488:
484:
479:
472:
468:
463:
456:
451:
444:
440:
435:
428:
424:
420:
415:
413:
405:
401:
396:
389:
385:
381:
378:
374:
369:
367:
365:
358:
352:
346:
340:
334:
328:
322:
318:
315:
310:
302:
295:
289:
273:
266:
260:
254:
251:
245:
241:
234:
231:
229:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
194:
190:
186:
178:
175:
172:
162:
160:
156:
148:
145:
144:
143:
133:
129:
125:
122:
120:
117:
115:
112:
111:
110:
109:
103:
99:
96:
94:
91:
89:
85:
84:communication
82:
81:
80:
79:
75:
67:
63:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
42:
38:
37:UK government
34:
30:
26:
22:
628:
621:The Guardian
620:
612:
605:The Guardian
604:
596:
584:. Retrieved
580:the original
575:
565:
540:
536:
529:
517:
509:
494:
486:
478:
471:The Guardian
470:
462:
450:
443:The Guardian
442:
434:
426:
403:
395:
351:
339:
327:
309:
300:
288:
276:. Retrieved
271:
259:
244:
232:
224:
196:
192:
188:
180:
176:
168:
154:
152:
141:
107:
106:
77:
76:
73:
64:
24:
20:
18:
126:expressive
119:mathematics
881:Categories
237:References
216:play-based
159:Parliament
138:Exemptions
796:Academies
557:1747-938X
487:The Times
404:The Times
763:Scotland
727:Scotland
696:Scotland
502:Archived
380:Archived
317:Archived
114:literacy
98:personal
88:language
58:and the
54:are the
52:Scotland
824:English
753:England
717:England
710:History
686:England
586:3 April
357:MS Word
345:MS Word
333:MS Word
278:3 April
212:phonics
33:England
829:Gaelic
789:Topics
555:
301:GOV.UK
272:Gov.uk
250:online
132:design
839:Welsh
834:Irish
768:Wales
732:Wales
701:Wales
297:(PDF)
268:(PDF)
48:Wales
866:UTCs
588:2021
553:ISSN
280:2021
228:SATs
204:ADHD
169:The
130:and
128:arts
86:and
50:and
25:EYFS
19:The
545:doi
510:TES
253:pdf
31:in
883::
773:UK
619:,
603:,
574:.
551:.
541:18
539:.
508:,
485:,
469:,
441:,
425:,
411:^
402:,
390:).
363:^
299:.
270:.
210:,
161:.
100:,
62:.
664:e
657:t
650:v
590:.
559:.
547::
421:,
303:.
282:.
23:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.