It draws on previous guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which has been updated in order to reflect recent research, to meet the needs of practitioners, to respond to current issues in society, to meet the needs of children today and to lay a strong foundation for their futures.
The core principles of the guidance recognise:
- the child at the centre of practice
- the child’s connections within family, communities, cultures and the natural world
- the need to consider the whole child: physical, social and emotional wellbeing, health, and learning
- the child’s rights as a member of society under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- the sector’s responsibilities under the United Nations Sustainability Goals and UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development
- the statutory requirements of the SEND Code of Practice.
The Early Years Coalition, of which the NEU is a member, published Birth to Five Matters in 2021.
