Expressive arts and design

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework

The statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) says:

The development of children’s artistic and cultural awareness supports their imagination and creativity. It is important that children have regular opportunities to engage with the arts, enabling them to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts. The frequency, repetition and depth of their experiences are fundamental to their progress in interpreting and appreciating what they hear, respond to and observe.

The help for early years providers website, from the Department for Education, provides information, guidance and practical support for delivering the EYFS framework. Resources are split into 3 areas based on the educational programmes:

• Imagination and creativity
• Self-expression
• Communicating through arts

These resources will help you when reviewing your current curriculum to make sure you are meeting the requirement of the revised expressive arts and design area of learning.

As you make changes to your curriculum consider what you want children to learn first and plan opportunities for them to achieve this.

Training

Expressive arts and design – supporting emotional development

Publications

You can find out more about our booklet 'expressive arts and design through enabling environments' and order copies from the publications for sale page.

Tools

Tell the tale a musical way (PDF 447 KB)

See Early Education website form more inspirational articles.

A series of inspiring pamphlets on the Froebel Trust website include a FT clay, FT songs, Rhymes and Finger play, FT play.

More information about clay play: Fairy Dust Teaching blog.

Many interesting articles can be found on the Community Playthings website.