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Policies & Frameworks

Welcome to our EYFS & KS1 Policies and Frameworks Resource Centre

The Early Excellence Resource Centre brings together a range of downloadable links to useful guidance and publications from the Department of Education, Ofsted and the Education Endowment Foundation. It provides a valuable and timesaving resource to support school leaders, Early Years (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) teams.

Here you’ll find statutory frameworks, guidance materials, assessment exemplifications, curriculum support tools and the latest research reports to inform effective practice, brought together for you in one place.

Whether you’re seeking the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, the EYFS Profile Handbook, Development Matters, KS1 continuity reports, or key research reviews on pedagogy and early reading or writing strategies, this page offers direct access – helping you stay informed, relevant and evidence-driven. Each resource is clearly labelled and linked, making it quick and easy to download the latest EYFS & KS1 policies and frameworks.

If you’d like to receive Early Years updates and our thoughts on the changes and how to implement them in your school or setting, then please do sign up to our newsletters below.



Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

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EYFS Profile Handbook

This handbook supports EYFS practitioners in making accurate judgements about each child's attainment

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EYFS Exemplification Materials

To support teachers in making early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) judgements

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Development Matters 2020

Non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage

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Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Results

Early years foundation stage profile results for the 2021 to 2022 academic year at national and local authority level.

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What Academies, Free Schools and Colleges Must or Should Publish Online

Information that academies, including free schools, colleges and any educational institution with academy arrangements.

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What Maintained Schools Must Publish Online

The information that schools maintained by their local authorities.

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The Reading Framework: Teaching the Foundations of Literacy

Guidance for schools to meet existing expectations for teaching early reading

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The Writing Framework

The writing framework outlines an approach to teaching writing based on evidence and existing good practice.

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Implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage Reforms

Videos for practitioners assessing children’s development at the end of the early years foundation stage (EYFS)

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Strong Foundations in the First Years of School

This report reviews how schools secure key knowledge and skills for KS1 success

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Best Start in Life Research

Part 1 - A series of research reviews focused on the pre-school age range, from birth to 4 years

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Best Start in Life Research

Part 2 - Examine the factors that contribute to developing young children’s knowledge and skills in the 3 Prime Areas

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Best Start in Life Research

Part 3 – This considers the 4 Specific Areas of Learning and how they are strengthened

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Telling the story: the English education subject report

This report builds on the English research review, published in 2022

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Research review series: English

This review explores the research literature relating to English.

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School Inspection Handbook

Ofsted guidance on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the education inspection framework

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School Inspection Handbook ‘Summary of Changes’

Documentation setting out changes made to reflect inspection practice.

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Ofsted Inspections: What EY Providers Need to Know

What schools, registered early years providers need to know about delivering the early years foundation stage (EYFS)

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Early Years Inspection Handbook

Ofsted guidance on inspecting registered early years and childcare providers under the education inspection framework

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Birth to 5 Matters

Non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage

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Early Years Toolkit: Early Mathematics

Approaches and practices to supporting Early Mathematics from the EEF

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Early Years Toolkit: Early Literacy

Approaches and practices for supporting Early Literacy from the EEF

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Improving Mathematics in the EY and KS1

Five recommendations to support practitioners in developing the maths skills of children in Early Years & KS1

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Early Years Evidence Store

Support to help you put evidence-informed approaches into practice.

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Pedagogy, Practice and Child Outcomes in YR

What research tells us about effective pedagogic practice and children’s outcomes in the Reception year

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Executive Summary

Teaching Four & Five Year Olds: The Hundred Review of the Reception Year in England

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