Welcome to The Foundation Years Trust
For all children, the quality of the home learning environment is more important for intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or income. What parents do is more important than who parents are.
Effective Provision of pre-school education (EPPE) 2004
The Foundation Years Trust’s objective is that all children start school on an equal footing, no matter what their family's income or social background. The first five years are the most crucial period in a child’s life and because parents and carers are their child’s first and most enduring educator, we put parents at the heart of our programme.
We believe that every parent can benefit from support to better understand and actively encourage their child’s early development and that every parent wants the best for their children.
The Foundation Years Trust works with early years settings across the Wirral, and with parents directly, to help parents provide a positive learning environment at home.
Watch our short video for the messages we want to to pass on to parents, so they understand just how important they are in their child's development.
What we do
O-walking
Our Early Explorers programme is for pregnant and new parents. Our staff demonstrate fun ways parents can help their baby's early development and encourage strong attachment.
walking - 2 years old
For toddlers just walking but not yet old enough for our Little Explorers groups in nurseries.
Little Explorers groups are weekly opportunities for parents to be part of nursery life. These fun, relaxed groups help parents to better support their child's learning.
This exciting group is run by parent volunteers trained to run groups with other parents & children together, reading books and story-telling. It's been a big success at Liscard school, so more parents have also been trained in Rockferry, Woodslee & Town Lane primary schools.
Training for Early Years Staff
Early years staff are well placed to help parents create positive learning environments at home. We provide training to help you build strong cooperative relationships with your parents.
Early years staff are well placed to help parents create positive learning environments at home. We provide training to help you build strong cooperative relationships with your parents.
Current News
A thank you from the Secretary of State
On 2 July, Anna-Louise attended the DfE’s launch of its 'Hungry Little Minds' campaign promoting the Home Learning Environment & was delighted to receive this thank you for our collaboration from Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP.
FYT are delighted to promote this campaign and we fully support the Secretary of State’s decision to put the home learning environment onto the national early years agenda.
See how the new Hungry Little Minds campaign is helping parents set their children up nicely for school with fun tips & activities at: https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/ and on Instagram #hungrylittleminds. You can also find lots of ideas on our website and by following us on our Instagram page #parentsmakethedifference
Our Impact
This is what our parents have told us has changed since they joined Little Explorer groups