A new version of the non-statutory EYFS guidance document, Birth to 5 Matters, is set to be published, the Early Years Coalition (EYC) – a group of sector organisations which includes the Early Years Alliance – has announced.
Initially published in 2021, Birth to 5 Matters was created to support educators to help children make progress within the seven areas of learning and development.
The EYC has confirmed that alongside updating existing sections, the second edition of the guidance document may extend into new areas to meet current needs – for example, the extension of funding to early years places for babies from nine months may trigger a need for more focussed guidance on working with under-twos, and the rapid growth of digital technologies may bring a need for more guidance on the role of digital technology in supporting children’s learning and development.
The coalition has launched an initial online survey, running until 24 November, inviting people from across the early years sector to share their views and get involved in helping to shape the priorities for this new edition of Birth to 5 Matters. The survey will also ask how well the current guidance provides support across the full range of EYFS practice.
In addition to the survey, there may be opportunities for people to get involved in a focus group or a setting visit to explain their experiences and views in more detail than a survey allows.
Specialist working groups will use these initial findings to update the guidance and address any gaps. Once a draft of the revised guidance is compiled, a second online survey will give the sector a further opportunity to comment before the final versions are written.
Beatrice Merrick, chair of the EYC, said:
“We know Birth to 5 Matters is widely used and valued across the early years sector. While a major rewrite is not planned, there is scope for some updating and extending of the current guidance to take account of new research as well as new priorities in today’s context.
“We are particularly pleased that this time round there are good lines of communication with the Department for Education and Ofsted about the ongoing review process and ensuring join-up between sources of guidance.”
Nancy Stewart, project lead, added:
“We want to hear how Birth to 5 Matters is being used in practice, what works well, and what could be improved. We will be seeking a wide response from anyone interested in early years – including practitioners in all kinds of settings, researchers and training providers,”
