The Foundation Stage: a Sure Start
Early education is high on the Government's agenda and is one of the main provisions of the 2002 Education Act. Part of the National Curriculum for England, it covers education for children from age three to the end of the reception year, and aims to lay a secure basis for later schooling and future learning.
More recently, early-years schooling has become interwoven with the Government's Sure Start programme (first announced in 1998) to bring together teaching, childcare and health and family support. With a budget rising to over £1.5 billion by 2005/06, the initiative, led by the Sure Start Unit, aims to ensure:
- delivery of free early education for ages three and four
- affordable, high-quality childcare and after-school activities in every district
- children's centres and health and family support in disadvantaged areas.
The Sure Start website gives you access to the latest news and resources available for this area.
Teaching the Foundation Stage
The Government and its agencies have provided guidance on
planning, teaching, learning and assessment. Early-learning goals have
been identified within six areas of learning, with stepping stones of progress
towards those targets. The Foundation Stage Profile is a single national scheme
that allows effective monitoring of a young child's progress. It is a
statutory assessment for children in the final year of the Foundation Stage
(reception year).
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Access a list of resources for the Foundation Stage.
National Sure Start Month: June 2006
Celebrating and reaching out to parents about the diverse childcare
and early-education services available.
Visit the Primary National Strategy's website to find out how the Primary National Strategy supports teachers and schools in raising standards across the whole curriculum.
Published: 20 November 2006
