All childcare settings for children under five have to follow the government's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS is made up of two sets of requirements: the learning and development requirements and the safeguarding and welfare requirements.
Early Years education and learning
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Progress check for two year olds
When a child is aged between two and three, settings must review their progress and provide parents and carers with a short summary of their development in the prime areas.
The summary must identify the child's strengths and identify where progress is less than expected. Where there are concerns, or the child has an identified special educational need or disability, the setting must involve parents and carers in putting together a plan to support the child's learning and development.
School readiness
Your child may already have learned the basic skills they need for school, either at home or in a childcare setting. Below are some helpful websites that have further information about starting school:
Try to prepare your child for what will happen in school and encourage their independence. Talk to your child's teacher and school support staff, especially if your child has concerns or family circumstances change. The more they know, the more they can help. They want your child to be happy at school.
If your child has a learning disability, you may have extra concerns about them starting school. Talk to your child's teacher or special educational needs coordinator (SENCo).
Applying for school
Starting school is one of the most important milestones in every child's life. To help you decide which schools to apply for, you can arrange tours and view their website and Ofsted reports.
You can find out more about your local schools, read our parents' guides and find out how and when you need to apply for a school place on our website.
The Link Programme
Transferring to school can be an exciting but uncertain time. Good planning, preparation and information sharing by all parties is key to a successful transition.
Some pre-school children may face specific challenges when moving to a new education setting. The purpose of the Link Programme is to support those children and to give them the best possible start to school life.
Parents, the early years setting and the school will work together to plan a transfer programme that meets the individual needs of the child. It will help to identify and remove barriers when starting school.