About the Themes and Principles
The EYFS is based around four themes:
- A Unique Child.
- Positive Relationships.
- Enabling Environments.
- Learning and Development.
Each theme is linked to an important Principle:
A Unique Child
- Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive Relationships
- Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.
Enabling Environments
- The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.
Learning and Development
- Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.
The Early Years Foundation Stage pack, available from the Related links section of this page, includes the Statutory Framework, the Practice Guidance, the Early Years Foundation Stage poster and the Principle into Practice Cards.
Jacque Childs 11.07 am, 14th January 2010
I have worked with pre-school children for many years but had a five year break and so I am familiarising myself with the EYFS framework. I do not agree fully with your definition of positive relationships definition: re "children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relatinshkps with parents and other key people." Being independent is
the bit that gets me. Surely in relationships there should be some inter-dependence - eg. considering the other person, sharing, team work, respecting the other person etc. 'strong and independent sounds cold and self centred. We want young people to learn social skills and grow up into socialable adults, with good people skills.
showes 7.49 pm, 27th February 2010
In practice the being 'strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships' will be about children developing emotional resilience through social skills, awareness of others and an emerging self awareness. I agree this starts through inter-dependence that then enables children to develop the early stages of emotional resilience. This underpins the ongoing emergence of more independent emotional skills as children grow. Independence does not suggest isolation or being cut off. It is should and can be a well balanced set of emotional skills (that constitute reflefection, sensitivity, emotional security and personal responsibility) that form a part of a healthy, integrated social emotional development. I feel that the statement can include this balanced approach, although it is certainly an area worth discussing.
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