Nursery World - Staggs' warning on EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage is in danger of becoming 'a missed opportunity', without major investment and a more coherent long-term vision, the former national director of the Foundation Stage said on Friday. Speaking to Nursery World in advance of her keynote speech at the Early Years and Primary Teaching exhibition in Manchester last weekend, Lesley Staggs said there was no ten-year vision built into the EYFS.

Speaking to Nursery World in advance of her keynote speech at the Early Years and Primary Teaching exhibition in Manchester last weekend, Lesley Staggs said there was no ten-year vision built into the EYFS.

She praised the 'aspirational' and 'excellent' guidance which she said had good continuity with Birth to Three Matters and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.

But she criticised the way in which the final EYFS had been divided into statutory requirements and practice guidance and resources, rather than one coherent document.

'I think there's some brilliant guidance and the principles are excellent, but there's a huge danger in separating the statutory framework from the guidance,' said Ms Staggs.

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