Unlocking Your Child’s Potential: The Power of Early Enrolment in EYFS Programmes

As parents, we all want to give our children the best possible start in life. One of the most effective ways to do this is by enrolling them in a school-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) programme from as early as 18 months. These formative years are critical for your child’s development, setting the stage for their future learning, social skills and overall wellbeing. But did you know that starting sooner rather than later can significantly enhance your child’s development trajectory?

The Early Years Advantage: Elevating Their Educational Flightpath

A school-based Early Years education is more than just childcare; it’s a crucial step in your child’s educational journey. The sooner a child begins in EYFS, the better their educational flightpath becomes. Data consistently show that children who join a school-based EYFS programme are more likely to meet or exceed their Early Learning Goals (ELGs), setting them up for their journey into Primary school and beyond. The BSO-accredited EYFS programme at Network International School for example enabled 76% of children to meet their expected ELGs by age 5, soaring above the UK’s national average of 65% in 2023. This extraordinary achievement means that Early Years children at Network start Primary school with a significant advantage as their personal, social, cognitive, speaking and literacy development began up to three years earlier than many of their peers.

The Benefits of Early Enrolment in EYFS

Social and Cognitive Development

Children who begin their school-based EYFS journey early are provided with a structured environment where they can interact with peers, fostering critical social skills such as sharing, empathy, and communication. Research shows that early social interactions are crucial for cognitive development. Children learn from each other through play, which is expertly guided by our trained practitioners. These interactions help build a foundation for problem-solving, creativity, and emotional regulation—skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. This relational approach works: in 2024, 82% of Early Years children at Network International School who joined aged 2-3 met their expected Personal, Social and Emotional Early Learning Goals (ELGs) by the age of 5, compared with 66% of children who join Early Years programmes from the age of 4 and above. This shows us that earlier enrolment in an accredited, school-based Early Years programme has significant and lasting benefits on your child’s early social and cognitive development.

Linguistic Advancement

Language development is another key area where early EYFS enrolment makes a difference. Young children are in a prime developmental stage to acquire language skills. In a school-based EYFS setting, they are exposed to a rich language environment filled with stories, songs and conversations that enhance their vocabulary and comprehension. Studies have consistently shown that children who participate in quality early years programmes tend to have better language skills when they enter primary school. Network International School children are a testament to this: in 2024, 72% of Early Years children who had enjoyed over two years of Early Years education at Network met their expected Speaking ELGs, compared with 35% of children who had experienced only one year. This sizeable difference demonstrates again how early enrolment in an accredited, school-based Early Years programme accelerates your child’s linguistic development and gives them a significant headstart to their peers.  The other key linguistic benefit is that children with little or no proficiency in English face no barriers in joining an EYFS programme young as they will quickly and naturally absorb the language in the fully immersive environment.

Flexibility to Suit Your Family’s Needs

We understand that every family’s needs are different. That’s why we are excited to introduce new flexible options in our EYFS programme, including three and four-day weeks in Foundation 1. These options allow you to choose a schedule that works best for your family while still ensuring your child receives a high-quality early education experience.

Expanded Expertise in Foundation 1

We are also thrilled to announce the expansion of our Foundation 1 team, which is now led by Tr Emma, an international practitioner and our Deputy Head of EYFS with extensive experience in early childhood education. Tr Emma, who is from the UK, brings a global perspective and innovative teaching practices to our programme, further enriching the learning experience for our youngest students.

Take Advantage of Our Early Bird Discount

To make it even easier for you to give your child the best start, we are offering an early bird discount for registrations paid prior to December 10th for enrolment in January 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity to secure your child’s place in our highly sought-after programme at a reduced rate and guarantees their place in Foundation 2 the following year.

Enrolling your child early in an EYFS programme is an investment in their future. The benefits extend far beyond basic childcare, offering your child a head start in social, cognitive, and linguistic development. With our flexible options, expanded expertise, and early bird discount, there’s never been a better time to take that important first step in your child’s educational journey.

Join our Early Years Open Morning on Saturday, 16^th November 2024 and meet our team

Contact admissions@networkintlschool.com to secure your place. We look forward to welcoming your family into our community and helping your child achieve their full potential!