Following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we operate a Key Person system. “Their role is to help ensure that every child’s care is tailored to meet their individual needs, to help the child become familiar with the setting, offer a settled relationship for the child and build a relationship with their parents and/or carers”, EYFS 2025. They key person will work with the parents on the settling in sessions, building a bond with the parents and the child from the start of their journey with us. They will observe and assess your child’s learning and development, supporting the child through activities and planning next steps to encourage their learning and development. The key person is a member of staff who the parents can go to if they have any questions, concerns or comments about the child, their behaviour, learning, needs, or about the nursery. Our aim is for the key person to enable the child to feel safe and secure, and the parents to feel reassured about the care their child is receiving.
The statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, which was updated most recently for September 2025, sets out statutory guidance which all early years providers must follow, to comply, as it sets standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years old.
The learning and development requirements within the EYFS set out what providers must do in order to promote the learning and development of all children in their care, and ensure they develop skills and readiness for Key Stage 1. There are 7 areas of learning, which are set into 3 prime and 4 specific.
Involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and developing respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.
Involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
Involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.
Involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.
