What are Early Adopters?

In 2018 the Department for Education (DfE) proposed changes to the early learning goals and the assessment process within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

On 1st July 2020 (following a consultation period), the DfE published two documents:

Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five EYFS reforms early adopter version July 2020

Early years foundation stage profile 2021 handbook EYFS reforms early adopter version June 2021.

The reforms announced are designed to:

• improve outcomes at 5 years old
• improve language development for all children but particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds
• reduce workload for teachers and childcare practitioners. 

In September 2020, some schools have selected to use the new early learning goals, which will be fully rolled out to all schools in September 2021. For the year 2020-2021 All Saints' are part of the Early Adopter Programme, trialling these new reforms. 

While the EYFS Statutory Framework and early learning goals set in place the expectations and levels of attainment for children by the end of their Reception year, they do not set a mandatory path to those goals, recognising the individual nature of development, especially in Early Years children.

The document below explains the Early Learning Goals which the children will be working towards during their year in EYFS.