Ive heard that the Government has introduced a new National Curriculum for babies and toddlers. What does this mean for childminders?
In September 2008 the Government introduced and established a coherent quality framework that defines progression for young children aged 0 to 5 years. The framework brought together the Birth to Three Matters Framework, the Foundation Stage and the national standards for day-care and childminding to create the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS is based on the following key principles: • supporting learning through play with enjoyment and challenge, • and meeting the diverse needs of individual children in inclusive and safe environments. This will continue to be the approach we want to embed in all settings caring for children from birth to the end of reception year in schools. The EYFS acknowledges that, for young children, care and learning happen together and are indivisible and that young children learn best through play. It is not a curriculum and does not require formal teaching. It does not prescribe a particular approach or philosophy. It places strong emphasis on
