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THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE The Early Years Foundation Stage is a single statutory framework for care, learning and development for all children in registered early years settings and schools from birth to the end of reception class. The Early Years Foundation Stage came into force in September 2008 and builds on and replaces the existing statutory Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, the non statutory Birth to Three Matters Framework and elements of regulatory frameworks in the National Standards for under 8’s daycare and childminding. The aim of the Early Years Foundation Stage is to help young children achieve the Five Every Child Matters outcomes of staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well being. At Safe Hands we work within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. All of our children are offered a rich and varied environment which supports children’s learning and development, giving them the confidence to explore and learn in a secure and safe, yet challenging indoor and outdoor space. Safe Hands work in partnership with other settings, professionals, individuals and groups within the community to support children’s development and progress towards the outcomes of every child matters. PLANNING AND OBSERVING CHILDREN Each individual child is given the opportunity of learning through high quality play that is tailored specifically to them. All planning starts with observing children in order to understand and consider their current interests, development and learning. Your child’s key person will plan activities and experiences that are challenging but achievable to your child, observations are then recorded in your child’s Learning Journey. THE LEARNING JOURNEY The Learning Journey is a document in which we record observations of your child’s play which allows us to track their development through the 6 areas of learning (Personal, social and emotional development, Communication language and literacy, Knowledge and understanding of the world, Physical development, Creative development and Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy) this then enables us to plan for their future development. The Learning Journey stays with your child through their early year’s education right up to the end of their school reception year. The Learning Journey is available to you at all times, please ask you child’s key person if you wish to view it. Safe Hands also holds a parent/carer information evening which gives you the opportunity to go through the learning journey with your child’s key person.