Early years staff need more guidance on EYFS

The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), which develops and assesses the curriculum, has been seeking the views of practitioners from across the early years sector on how the first year of the EYFS has gone.

Jan Dubiel, QCDA's EYFS programme manager, told CYP Now that early findings from completed questionnaires indicate "a lot of misunderstandings", which have "produced challenges".

Dubiel said that many practitioners are overestimating the level of evidence required from them.

"The information is out there and everybody has received some sort of training, but more work needs to be done around exposing and dispelling myths and being clear about what is and is not required of practitioners delivering the EYFS," he added.

QCDA's official findings will be submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in September.

The news comes as the British Association for Early Childhood Education, also known as Early Education, called for more guidance and support on EYFS based on questionnaire responses from 295 members.

Early Education members have called for more help in demonstrating progress, supporting child-initiated activities and planning.

Megan Pacey, Early Education's chief executive, said very few respondents felt the learning goals based on communication, language and literacy in the EYFS were appropriate.

"Many members felt that the communication, language and literacy goals were too aspirational and not likely to be consistently achievable for all children," she added. "The time is right to discuss amendments."