Guidance

Development Matters

Non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 3 March 2017
• Last updated: 4 September 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 4 September 2023

     Updated references to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) to reflect that an updated version of the early years foundation stage framework has been published.

  2. 23 July 2021

     Updated pages 50 and 54 of the guidance to re-insert text from the previously published version.

  3. 20 July 2021

     An updated version of Development Matters.

  4. 3 March 2017

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Development Matters

PDF, 24.6 MB, 128 pages

Development Matters

HTML

Details

Development Matters offers a top-level view of how children develop and learn for all early years practitioners, including:

• childminders
• staff in nurseries
• nursery schools
• school nursery and reception classes in school

The guidance can help meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework.