The Consortium

CONSORTIUM OFFERS ADVICE AND SUPPORT FOR EARLY YEARS PRACTITIONERS

Easy-to-use steps included in new catalogue to help parents and early years practitioners through the EYFS

Early years practitioners can now access a free resource to help them implement the government‘s new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The Consortium, the UK‘s largest independent provider of education resources, has taken the innovative approach of enlisting an experienced early years practitioner to provide support and advice about all aspects of the EYFS.

Sally Eccles, who worked as a pre-school practitioner and has studied the principles of early learning in-depth, has worked with The Consortium to re-organise its latest Early Years catalogue to reflect the many themes of EYFS.

She said: “I know first-hand how difficult and time consuming it can be to source the good-quality, open-ended resources needed to build an environment that meets the principles of the EYFS and so provide the best learning opportunities for young children.

“I was thrilled when The Consortium asked me to work with them in the planning of their 2009 Early Years catalogue.”

She added: “I am passionate about providing great environments for children and, because of my own background in early years and my understanding of the theory and research that underpins the EYFS, I have a real appreciation of issues affecting settings today.”

Melanie Teal, Chief Executive at The Consortium, said: “We believe that re-organising the catalogue to reflect the principles and themes of the EYFS will help early years practitioners to take the requirements of the new curriculum and marry them to the needs of their settings, at the same time creating an effective tool to help practitioners review and plan their learning environments to reflect the needs and interests of the children in their care.

“With Sally‘s help we have created what we believe to be an invaluable resource for early years practitioners as they strive to provide the best possible learning environments for the children.”

For more information go to www.earlyyears.co.uk

ENDS 21st May 2009

For further information please contact Louie Hadley, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email louie@sturgessvandamme.co.uk