The foundation stage begins when children reach the age of three.
Many children first attend some form of pre-school or nursery soon after their third birthday.
Children will have already learnt a great deal by the time they are three years old. Many children will have been taken to groups such as parent and toddler groups, and some children will have had experience of group settings such as day centres or home settings with a childminder. Many children will have their first experience of a group setting soon after their third birthday. It is important that early years practitioners work in partnership with parents and other adults. These may include therapists, health visitors, portage workers and teachers of the visually and hearing impaired.