EYFSHome has partnered with Connect Childcare to help over 180,000 home-schooling parents and childcare providers access its free database of educational activity resources – all of which link to the national Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

EYFSHome aims to support children and their families learn from home in a fun and inquisitive way.

​The initiative has now reached over 24,000 users during its seven months in operation and its goal is to reach eight times that by integrating into Connect’s ParentHub section in its ParentZone app – accessed by over 180,000 active users each month.

EYFSHome was set up by a group of volunteers at the start of lockdown in March. To support families through the first lockdown it offered free resources to facilitate child development outside the nursery or childminder setting, for those aged between three and five years-old.

Launching with ‘Autumn Club’, Connect’s app-users will be able to access a library of seasonal resources – worksheets, videos and posters – to help keep their children’s engagement and learning journey progressing inside the home.

Commenting on the rationale behind the service, Simon Hepburn, EYFSHome’s marketing and community director, said: ‘The situation we find ourselves in due to the pandemic isn’t going away any time soon, which means we must continue to adapt to and overcome the challenges.

‘Nurseries are finding it increasingly difficult to remain open due to current funding levels but demand for childcare is at an all-time high. And our mission is to support nurseries and parents in keeping child development in full flow, while all this is happening around us.

‘We knew Covid-19 would affect Early Years education in a big way, but we – with the help of Connect – aim to help mitigate any feelings of uncertainty or helplessness parents and childcare staff may have, by providing them with the ‘tools’ they need to help their child develop.’

Elaborating on joining forces with EYFSHome, Connect’s CEO, Chris Reid said: ‘We believe consistent learning in both childcare and home environments can boost child development and deepen understanding.

‘EYFSHome is making it easier than ever to provide quality information, activities and ideas to parents that link to the work nursery staff are doing within their setting.

‘With Wales entering into national lockdown and talks of a ‘circuit breaker’ in England, we’re keen to get EYFSHome’s resources in front of as many people as possible – and the collaboration will help spread the word across our customer base.’