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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The Early Years Foundation Stage section of the DCSF website helps those working with young children to provide appropriate learning opportunities for babies and children. This is presented as an on-going cycle of understanding the nature of young children's development (Development matters), observation and assessment (Look, listen and note), teaching and learning (Effective practice) and Planning and resourcing.
Early Support is identified within EYFS as a means to promote partnership working with families and inclusion. The Early Support developmental journals presents information about early child development using the language and presentation of EYFS. This enables families to share what they know about their child easily with people who work in early years settings.
Read more about the Early Years Foundation Stage Practice Guidance, published May 2008.
Children's Centres
Sure Start Children's Centres are places where children under five and their families can get information and help from multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. The Government is committed to providing a Sure Start Children's Centre for every community by 2010. The Children's Centre programme is based on the concept that providing integrated education, care, family support and health services are the keys to good outcomes for children and their parents.
Children's Centres are important places where Early Support can be used. However, Early Support targets all young children with disabilities or with emerging special educational needs, whether or not they use these services.
Together for Children published guidance material that embeds an expectation that Early Support will be used routinely by Children's Centres.
"Raising standards..
"Adopting the principles and approach of the Early Support Programme, including training, 'key worker' systems, and information and guidance for parents, will provide better co-ordination and delivery of services for disabled children, leading to higher standards and improved outcomes."
Raising Standards Improving Outcomes, statutory guidance on the Early Years Outcomes Duty under the Child Act 2006, published 2008.
In 2007 the Primary National Strategy published a directory of resources for local authorities to help improve the quality of Early Years services for children and families. The Early Support programme is identified as a key resource to promote inclusion.
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as a Word Document
Last updated on 20/08/2009
