3.2 The early years education quality framework

EYEI evaluates the nature, range and appropriateness of the early learning experiences of children participating in the ECCE programme. The EYEI model is designed to:

■highlight the importance of high-quality early education and care in nurturing the foundations for

lifelong learning and in helping children develop to their full potential now and into the future

■identify and affirm good education provision in ELC settings

■support the ongoing development of educational quality in ELC settings through the provision of

support and advice to early years educators about how children’s learning experiences and achievements can be developed or improved.

The quality framework that informs evaluation during an EYEI, focuses on four areas:

■Area 1: Quality of the context to support children’s learning and development

■Area 2: Quality of the processes to support children’s learning and development

■Area 3: Quality of children’s learning experiences and achievements

■Area 4: Quality of management and leadership for learning

In analysing and reporting on the findings of evaluations of provision and practice in respect of each of the four areas of the EYEI quality framework, inspectors use a quality continuum with five quality bands:

Figure 3.1: The EYEI Quality Continuum