A CRITIQUE OF THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE EDUCATIONAL POLICY

A critique of the early Years foundation stage educational policy

A critique of the early Years foundation stage educational policy

Introduction

This paper is going to discuss and critically analyze the early year's foundation stage educational policy. During the course of the study I will analyze the aims and objectives behind the creation of the policy and what are the issues that are being addressed by this policy and what are the likely outcomes of the policy. During the study I will also analyze the impacts created by the policy such as ideological and international perspectives. The study will also focus on the groups who benefited from this policy and the benefits they have reaped as well as the group who opposed this policy and what is the basic reason behind their resistance to this early year's foundation stage educational policy.

The early year's foundation stage educational policy (EFYS) is a term referred in the section 39 of the child care Act (2006) of the British government. The EFYS consists of a set of Learning and Development Requirements and a set of welfare requirements. These requirements must be followed by the child care service providers for the children below 5 years of age which is also referred as the age of compulsory education in Britain. The requirements for welfare, learning and development are not precisely specified in the Act but it's narrated in separate orders.

This legislation is in effect since September 2008. The requirement for the welfare is applicable throughout the United Kingdom, but the requirement for learning and development is only applicable in England. Providers of childcare services, including nurseries, child-minders, Pre-school classes, and kindergartens are required to register under the child care Act in order to start and operate their services legally. In order to register and retain their registration they are bound to comply with the learning and development requirements for their operations in England (except the exempted areas). (David, 2003, pp. 451-61)The requirements for learning and development which are only applicable in England are unique in principles for implementing compulsory educational targets for children under the age of compulsory education and on the providers which are outside the system and don't receive any state funding.

Discussion

Early year's or foundation education is an imprecise definition to Pre-school education, pre-elementary education, preparatory education, or early childhood education is almost difficult to define. In most of the countries early education year is focused till the age of 8 years and in united kingdom it is referred for the education for children's under the age of 5 years. This age of early year's education is considered to be of vital importance as it forms the basis for the future education of the child. Including the United Kingdom few other countries have embraced the link between education and care. There is a program with early excellence centers which was developed in the United Kingdom which has incorporated a comprehensive set of services provided to children under the age ...