Learning & Development: EYFS Review - Behind the scenes

Dame Clare Tickell has now closed the call for evidence for the independent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This has been a wonderful opportunity for people to share their views and it will be interesting to hear the report in spring 2011. The Government will then consult on any proposed changes before they take effect from September 2012.

What I think we need to add into the equation, though, is the impact that such wide-sweeping bureaucratic reforms have had in the field and the danger posed by vested interests in keeping the existing system going. Labour's £25bn investment in the early years was truly admirable, but it spawned a whole industry and many people's jobs now rely on the EYFS - from programme and manual writers, website and magazine creators, video editors, workshop facilitators, material manufacturers, consultants, researchers and advisors, not to mention those supporting the ever-expanding compulsory Continuing Professional Development requirements. The danger is that such a system has become self-perpetuating. And, of course, all of these people will also have filled in the online consultation forms.