Arts become early years priority for DfE

The Department for Education’s new statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage has listed Expressive Arts and Design as one of four specific areas through which children’s communication, physical development and personal development must be strengthened and applied. This means that Early Years providers must use arts activity to promote the learning and development of all children in their care. The framework specifies that children should explore a range of media and materials, and be provided with opportunities for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology. The publication of the framework coincides with the launch by Early Arts of a new National Strategy for effective practice in early years settings, which sets out a range of measures that will lead to the development of professional practice in this area.