Birth to 5 Matters: Non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage
The guidance Birth to 5 Matters has been released.
Birth to 5 Matters is an alternative, non-statutory guidance document, developed ‘by the sector, for the sector’ and aims to support the introduction of the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Building on previous guidance for the EYFS, it has been updated to reflect research evidence. It outlines good practice and offers information and guidance for practitioners to consider how the principles of the EYFS underpin their practice. New sections are included on play, the characteristics of effective learning, and self-regulation.
Birth to 5 Matters:
https://www.birthto5matters.org.uk/download-or-buy-a-copy/
Both Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters are non-statutory guidance documents to support and guide practice of the implementation of the revised EYFS in September 2021. This means that early years providers may choose to use either, neither or both in conjunction with each other. In recent Vodcasts on the EYFS Reforms, Ofsted have been clear that they have no preference, as long as providers can demonstrate that their EYFS curriculum planning meets the needs of the children and helps them to make progress.
Development Matters is a short document with a 90 minute read time which can be found here. Birth to Five Matters is a longer document and it contains much more detail.
Please be aware that neither document should be used as a check list and any paperwork that takes practitioner time away from children is to be avoided.