Nursery World - Exclusive: The Minister's View

I would hazard a guess that most early years professionals did not choose their career because they love ticking boxes and filling in forms.

They did so because they want to spend time with young people and make a positive difference to their lives.

If early education becomes engulfed in endless bureaucracy, it has failed - the committed professionals that we are lucky enough to have in this sector know that better than anyone. The needs of children must come first. Staff time should be spent on play, not on paperwork.

This was certainly the view of Dame Clare Tickell, who conducted an independent review of the EYFS last year. She found that the overall impact of the curriculum had been positive: that it had contributed to raising standards, and that it enjoyed much support from both parents and staff. However, she also acknowledged that many staff found it cumbersome and difficult to use. Dame Clare's findings have allowed us to build on the strengths of the old EYFS, while making it simpler, clearer and less repetitive.

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