The Early Years Foundation Stage is a distinct phase of education for children aged 3-5. It is taught in Nursery and Reception. It has its own Curriculum Guidance which sets out seven basic areas of learning, which are:

• personal, social and emotional development
• communication and language
• literacy development
• mathematical development
• knowledge and understanding of the world
• physical development
• creative development

Each area has a set of related early learning goals which the children are expected to work towards by the age of five. Some children may achieve beyond the early learning goals; when they do this they access the Key Stage 1 phase where relevant.