EYFS at Snowflakes:
Our Reference Map of Development Towards School

What You'll Learn

How EYFS ensures no aspect of your child's development is overlooked
Why this framework gives you confidence in their school readiness
How we track and document progress you can see and measure
What the seven areas of learning mean for your child's daily experience

How EYFS Prepares Your Child for School

Snowflakes’ EYFS framework aligns with UK standards, ensuring your child develops every skill - from holding a pencil correctly to managing their emotions when separated from you.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework ensures your child develops every one of these capabilities systematically. At Snowflakes, our years of experience has taught us how to make this government framework feel like natural checkpoints rather than checklists.

High Staff to Child Ratio giving Individualised attention with baby

What Does EYFS Mean for Your Child?

When you're investing in nursery education, you need certainty that your child is developing comprehensively.

The EYFS provides that certainty. It's the same framework every British primary school uses to assess school readiness, meaning your child's development at Snowflakes directly aligns with what their Reception teacher expects.

Parents often tell us they chose Snowflakes because we can show them exactly where their child stands across all seven areas of learning. "holistic development" is too vague in our eyes - we do specific, measurable progress with love that connects to real outcomes.

When your four-year-old's teacher mentions they're exceeding expectations in Physical Development, you'll know precisely what that means because you've tracked that journey with us from the beginning.

Choose a branch to use our online booking system and come and see our approach in action.

During his period at the nursery, I noted a significant development in his speech, coordination, listening and numeracy skills. Such progress/improvement is mainly a function of the teaching staff at the nursery, their presence and dedication in supporting the children.

Review From Comer Crescent

Grandfather at Snowflakes Comer Crescent

Why Our EYFS Approach Stands Out

Knowing Where We Start

Within two weeks of joining us, we complete a comprehensive baseline assessment. These are not tests, but careful observation during play and activities. This shows us your child's starting point across all seven areas, allowing us to plan their individual learning journey.

Pre schooler using hammer for creative play

Weekly Planning That Responds to Your Child's Needs

Every Monday, our team meetings review each child's progress:

What did they master last week?
What are they ready for next?
Which activities will support their next steps?
How do we incorporate their interests?

This means when your child becomes fascinated with dinosaurs, we're using that interest to develop counting using dinosaur eggs, develop phonics with dinosaur names, and creative expression with dinosaur paintings. If their interests shift, so do we.

My son insists on setting the table now
—he learned it at Snowflakes!

Yvonne W

Parent at Snowflakes Norwood Green

Termly Progress Summaries: Clear Parent Communication

Every term, you receive a detailed progress summary showing:

Current development level in each area
Specific examples of achievements
Next steps we're working toward
Suggestions for home support

Parents tell us these summaries give them confidence and allow them to connect with them after work to continue on from what they have been doing at school - they understand their child's development.

The Two-Year Progress Check: Official Milestone

Between ages two and three, we complete a statutory progress check, sharing a written summary of development in the prime areas. This official document:

Identifies your child's strengths
Highlights any areas needing support
Provides strategies for home and nursery
Becomes part of their developmental record

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School Readiness: Ready for Reception

Primary schools assess children against EYFS Early Learning Goals when they start Reception. Our EYFS approach means your child arrives at school:

Academically prepared: Understanding phonics, recognising numbers, writing their name
Socially confident: Making friends, sharing, taking turns, resolving conflicts
Emotionally regulated: Managing separation, expressing needs, showing resilience
Physically capable: Dressing independently, using tools correctly, understanding health
Creatively expressive: Confident in art, music, and imaginative play

Reception teachers consistently report that our graduates don't just meet these goals - they exceed them, arriving as confident, capable learners ready for the next stage. Learn more about our child-led Montessori activities.

Technology-Enhanced Tracking: The EY Log Advantage

Through our EY Log app, you receive:

Daily observations: Photos and notes of significant learning moments
Development tracking: Visual progress across all seven areas
Home links: Activities that complement nursery learning
Milestone celebrations: Instant notification when your child achieves key developments

One parent described it perfectly: "It's like being there without being there. I can see my son's learning journey unfold in real-time, backed by the EYFS framework that gives me confidence he's developing properly."

Some words from parents

We've seen such amazing progress in her development, and it's clear she's both happy and thriving. The facilities are excellent, and what we appreciate most is how she's always encouraged to be herself in such a nurturing and supportive environment.

Norwood Green Review

Review On Google

My 2-year-old only attended for a few months but made huge progress. I could see the difference in his confidence and social skills. I am very grateful to the Lilac Room team for all their support. Even the office and management staff are very attentive and professional. Thank you Snowflakes.

Grand Union Village Review

Review on Daynurseries

Common Questions About EYFS

Is EYFS too structured for young children?

The framework provides structure for us, not restrictions for your child. They experience engaging activities and purposeful play - we're the ones ensuring those activities systematically develop all seven areas.

How does EYFS work with Montessori?

Montessori provides the materials and methods; EYFS ensures comprehensive coverage. When your child works with the pink tower (Montessori), they're developing spatial awareness and mathematical thinking (EYFS Mathematics) plus fine motor skills (EYFS Physical Development).

Will my child be tested constantly?

Assessment happens through observation during normal activities. Your child pouring water at the water table doesn't know we're assessing hand-eye coordination and understanding of volume - they're just enjoying water play with purpose.

Your Next Steps: Nothing Missed, Everything Documented

After 22 years of implementing EYFS across four locations, we've refined our approach to ensure every child receives comprehensive development support. The framework gives you confidence that while your child experiences joyful daily activities, we're systematically ensuring they develop every capability needed for school success and beyond.

During your visit, you'll observe:

The calm, purposeful atmosphere of our work cycle
Children choosing challenging work independently
Our teachers guide without interfering
The joy of mastery on young faces

Ready to see how EYFS ensures your child's complete development? Book your visit to observe how we make our systematic framework look like natural, joyful learning in action.

This is a core part of Our Approach, where we blend the comprehensive structure of the EYFS with the freedom of Montessori activities.