The British Association for Early Childhood Education have produced a series of leaflets to help parents of children under 5 years understand children’s development and take an active part in their learning.

The BBC website offers fun and games to encourage your child’s development and learning.

Read and Count A website for parents, carers and young children with activities to encourage reading, writing, counting and listening skills.

Parents Centre A government web site with information and advice about children's learning and the English education system for children from 0 to 16 years plus.

Children Learning Through Play- Adobe Acrobat .pdf file. A Fact Sheet written by Sue Finch, for the Informed Families Enfield, explaining how in every form of childcare and early years education, play is central to children's learning. This Fact Sheet also outlines the Foundation Stage and the Birth to Three framework.

Birth to Three Matters Birth to Three is a framework to support children in their earliest years and provides information on child development, effective practice, examples of play activities to promote play and learning, guidance on planning/resourcing and meeting diverse needs.
Foundation Stage The Foundation Stage is the first part of the National Curriculum and focuses on the needs of children from 3 years to the end of the reception year. All settings in receipt of Government funding to deliver free early years education are required to deliver the Foundation Stage curriculum.

From September 2008 the Early Years Foundation Stage brings together the Birth to Three Matters framework, the National Standards for Under 8’s Daycare and Childminding and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.

The National Curriculum is organised into Key Stages. For pupils aged 5-14 years click here and for more information about pupils aged between 14 and 19 years click here.

EPPE Research (summary). The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education. A major 5 year study investigating the effects of pre-school education and care on children’s development and underlining the effectiveness of good quality pre-school.

Research. Recent research and findings in the field of childcare, play and early education.

Parentline Plus An organisation that offers support to anyone parenting a child – the child’s parents, step parents, grandparents and foster parents. Also runs courses for parents and provides a range of information. Free telephone helpline on 0808 800 2222 or textphone 0800 783 6783.

A series of leaflets form the NSPCC for parents/carers on common parenting problems and positive ways of dealing with behaviour and other issues affecting children and young people.

Young Minds Parents Information Service provides information and advice for any adult with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person. Telephone helpline on 0800 018 2138