Key Stage Information

What are the Key Stages?

The National Curriculum is divided into four Key Stages that children are taken through during their school life. Targets defined in the National Curriculum are assessed at the end of each Key Stage.

The Key Stages
EYFS	Ages 3-4	Nursery and Reception
Key Stage 1	Ages 5-7	Years 1 and 2
Key Stage 2	Ages 7-11	Years 3,4,5 and 6

What is the EYFS?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes. Our Early Years setting follows the curriculum as outlined in the 2021 statutory framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS framework includes 7 areas of learning and development that are equally important and inter-connected. However, 3 areas known as the prime areas are seen as particularly important for igniting curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building children’s capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

The prime areas are:

Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development

The prime areas are strengthened and applied through 4 specific areas:

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design

What is the National Curriculum?

State schools in England must teach a range of subjects according to targets set by the National Curriculum. This was established in 1989 to ensure the same standards of teaching and learning across the nation.

The National Curriculum covers learning for all children aged 5-16 in state schools, and sets out:

Which subjects should be taught.
The knowledge, skills and understanding your child should achieve in each subject (according to your child’s age).
Targets - so that teachers can measure how well your child is doing in each subject.