3.—(1) It is directed that the provisions in Section 2 of the Document have effect for the purposes of specifying the learning and development requirements(1) under section 39(1)(a) of the Act.
(2) Early years providers(2) to whom section 40 of the Act (duty to implement Early Years Foundation Stage) applies must have regard to the guidance in Section 2 of the Document in securing that the early years provision they provide meets the learning and development requirements.
The learning and development requirements cover six areas of learning; the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (“the Document”) specifies early learning goals and educational programmes in relation to each area and includes arrangements required for assessing children’s achievements in relation to the early learning goals (see section 41(1) to (3) of the Childcare Act 2006 (“the Act”)).
For the definition of “early years provider” see section 96(3) of the Act.