Research and analysis

Best start in life: a research review for early years

A three-part subject-based curriculum research review focused on early years education.

From:
Ofsted
Published
14 November 2022
Last updated
8 October 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Best start in life part 3: the 4 specific areas of learning

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Best start in life part 2: the 3 prime areas of learning

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Best start in life part 1: setting the scene

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Details

This research review explores literature that relates to early years education and draws on a range of sources, including academic and policy literature. The review focuses on the pre-school age range, from birth to 4 years and has been produced to support early years practitioners to raise the quality of early years education.

The ‘Best start in life’ research review:

  • ‘part 1: setting the scene’ examines the factors that contribute to a high-quality early education
  • ‘part 2: the 3 prime areas of learning’ explores the factors that contribute to developing young children’s knowledge and skills in the 3 prime areas of learning in the early years foundation stage (EYFS)
  • ‘part 3: the 4 specific areas of learning’ considers what it means to make progress in the 4 specific areas of learning in light of findings from research, and the implications of this for practitioners

Updates to this page

Published 14 November 2022
Last updated 8 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added 'Best start in life part 3: the 4 specific areas of learning'.

  2. Added 'Best start in life part 2: the 3 prime areas of learning'.

  3. First published.

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