Is it true that preschools don't HAVE to follow the early learning goals and the EYFS?

[nappyaddict]

And is it necessarily a bad thing if they don't?

BUMP

No they are required to follow the ELG and EYFS the same as school nursery classes are.

I got the impression they have to follow them.

Yes they have to follow them

There is provision for individual parents to opt out but it looks a long & complex process

If a school doesn't follow EYFS they will be graded as inadequat by OFSTED, given an amount of time to comply & then closed if they don't

It is a legislative document, not guidance

Whether it is a bad thing or not is eminently debatable

Although some pre-schools choose not to register with ofsted, and so would not be covered by their rules.

See I have been told if they don't get funding from the government they don't have to follow them. Is this not the case?

Um

Since 1st September there should be no children who are not in their own home who are not under EYFS

Childminders have been forced to comply - they accept no gov funding and are still required to administer EYFS

I am not aware of a pre-school which would not be required to register with OFSTED

Unless the parents are present maybe?

have a look here

& here

I know all preschools have to register with Ofsted but I have been told before which is why I was questioning it that there are two types of Ofsted inspections - one to determine that the setting meets the 14 National Standards, and one to determine that it delivers the National (EYFS) Curriculum in a way that is acceptable to the government. All settings have to meet the National Standards however only those who offer the Early Years Grant have to follow the EYFS.

They have to follow it, that is why there was an outcry against it, there is no choice.

You need to read page 10 para 2.1 of this

"This section sets out the learning and development requirements that all early years providers
must by law deliver, regardless of type, size or funding of the setting. The Practice Guidance
for the Early Years Foundation Stage and supporting resources provide information and advice
designed to help practitioners meet these legal requirements in a way which reflects the needs
of the individual children in their care and is appropriate to their setting."

You need to contact the Early Years Teacher at the council

in our county (Leicestershire) the childminders have been told by their CIS support officers that they do not HAVE to follow EYFS, that it is not compulsory yet and therefore do not have to follow it! Most do but some have actually got this officer to put it in writing and OFSTED have not downgraded anyone yet! (3 CM had inspections last month with no EYFS stuff done and got high marks!)

Why is it not compulsory yet?

i dont know katymac, this is just what the childminders have been told by the link support lady, apparently childminders do not have to comply fully yet! (in our area!)

Only settings and parents who have applied for (and been granted) temporary exemption need not follow EYFS it is a statutory document.

pre-schools have to follow the EYFS, it is the law and they can be prosecuted if they don't follow it

So it has definitely got nothing to with whether they offer the early years grant? Even if they don't offer the early years grant they still have to follow the EYFS? Do private school nurseries have to follow it aswell?

if it doesn't offer the EYFS and it doesn't accept the early years grant then it's not really a pre-school is it? And ALL schools have to follow the EYFS as it applies to children in nursery schools and reception class as well. This covers ratios, premises, health and safety, safeguarding children as well as curriculum content. So childminders, after school clubs etc have to follow the EYFS if they have children of reception age and younger.

If they are not receiveing any government funding ,then they don't have to.

Individual settings can apply for an exemption or modification. The majority of the parents have to agree though and I'm not sure this applies to state pre-schools either. Only have experience of private settings doing so.