Nursery World - Exclusive: The Minister's View

The first five years, the foundation years, are absolutely critical. We know experiences in these earliest years have the biggest impact on how a child's brain develops. It's when children grasp the fundamental skills they need to do well at school and develop as happy, resilient and confident children.

To make sure every child can reach their full potential, we must tackle any problems early and make sure all children are being given the best foundations for school.

That is why my Department has published for consultation a revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), in response to Dame Clare Tickell's report. It is a much slimmer, less bureaucratic framework which I hope will give you, as professionals, more freedom to do what you do best - working with young children.

Three prime areas of learning - personal, social and emotional development; physical development; and communication and language - are the backbone of the new EYFS. And the slimmed-down assessment at age five will judge children against just 17, rather than 69, learning goals. We hope this will give you more time to focus on child development and less on ticking boxes.

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