It was introduced in September 2000 and joined the National Curriculum in 2002. All 4 year olds and many 3 year olds are entitled to free part-time education.
As each child is introduced to speaking and listening, singing and dancing, stories and counting, he or she will be gaining all the basic skills that will help them when they reach year 1 in their primary school.
Six areas of learning are covered in the foundation stage and each has a set of related early learning goals leading to a single national assessment system - The Foundation Stage Profile.
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication, language and literacy
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
The government funds Foundation Stage places in nursery and reception classes, in playgroups, in pre-schools, in nurseries and with accredited childminders in approved childminding networks.
SCE Foundation Stage settings (FS1 settings and FS2 classes) follow the "Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage" published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The Foundation Stage Profile will normally be completed before a child leaves Foundation Stage 2.