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<p>The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework for all early
years providers [1]. The EYFS seeks to provide quality and consistency in all early
years settings, so that every child makes good progress, attainment gaps are reduced
and no child gets left behind. The EYFS specifies areas in which early years providers
must support children to develop, including literacy and numeracy. It is the responsibility
of early years providers to identify and meet the learning and development needs of
the children attending their setting. The EYFS requires providers to carry out ongoing
assessment of children’s development and needs and should address any learning and
development needs in partnership with parents and/or carers, and any relevant professionals.</p><p>
</p><p>The Department for Education is increasing the level of required English and
maths qualifications for members of the early years workforce. This will ensure that
all those working with young children have the right skills to support all children
to achieve appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy.</p><p> </p><p>1. We have published
guidance on Teacher’s Standards (Early Years) which includes a requirement for Early
Years Teachers to demonstrate a clear understanding of synthetic phonics and strategies
for teaching early mathematics. The standards also require Early Years Teachers to
plan and adapt education to cater for the needs of individual children, to make accurate
assessments to inform children’s learning and development and to promote equality
of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.</p><p> </p><p>2. Early Years Teachers
must pass the same professional skills tests as trainee school teachers and must have
GCSE English and maths at grade C or above on entry to training courses.</p><p> </p><p>3.
NCTL published new, more robust, criteria for level 3 qualifications in July 2013
– the “Early Years Educator” criteria. They set out the minimum requirements for the
knowledge, understanding and skills which learners must demonstrate during assessment
for their qualification to be considered qualified at level 3. The criteria include
a requirement for qualifications to include a focus on recognising and meeting the
individual learning and development needs of children.</p><p> </p><p>4. From 1 August
2014, Government funding of Level 3 Early Years Educator training courses through
the Skills Funding Agency will require trainees to have GCSEs in English and maths,
at grade C or above, on entry. The EYFS has been amended to require staff holding
a new Early Years Educator qualification to have achieved GCSEs in English/English
Language and maths, at grade C or above, in order to count in the staff ratios at
level 3. From September 2014, GCSE English and maths, at grade C or above, will be
required on exit from a level 3 early years apprenticeship. This is an interim measure
to support the sector in reaching the higher standards required. From August 2015,
the GCSEs in English and maths, at grade C or above, will be required on entry to
an early years apprenticeship.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department is also working
with experts in the voluntary sector and charitable organisations to support work
in these key areas. We have funded English and Maths Champions programmes through
the National Day Nurseries Association to spread good practice in teaching literacy
and numeracy in the early years.</p><p> </p><p>We are investing £1.4m in the Early
Language Development Programme – which has so far helped well over 100,000 parents
and family members to spot problems and get support with their children’s speech and
language. This work is being led by I CAN, the children’s communications charity.
We are also investing almost £1m in the work of the Literacy Trust to develop a model
to improve targeting and engagement of the most vulnerable families by staff in Children’s
Centres and support volunteers to improve children's early literacy and language skills.</p><p>
</p><p>[1] <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2</a></p>
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