Developing the Foundation Phase for 3-7 year olds in Wales

Abstract

The article is one of the outcomes of research commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government between 2004-6: 'Monitoring and Evaluation of the Effective Implementation of the Foundation Phase in Wales (MEEIFP)' to examine a new curriculum for 3-7 year old pupils in 41 pilot settings across Wales. A launch conference of the Foundation Phase was held in the Millennium centre, Cardiff, in December 2006 at which the MEEIFP team presented their findings.

Findings from the research were further peer reviewed and disseminated at the 12th Biennial Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, 28 August – 1Sept 2007, University of Szeged, Budapest, Hungary and at the British Educational Research Association BERA , London Institute of Education, September 2007. The research has impact for policy -makers and practitioners and precedes the national rollout of the Foundation Phase in Wales in September 2008.