Dr Emmi Pikler (1902-1984), paediatrician and scientist, developed an exemplary approach to provision for children under three. ‘[Her] vision of a healthy infant,’ writes her daughter Anne Tardos, ‘was an active, competent and peaceful infant, who lives in peace with himself and his environment.’ And so Pikler’s approach to caring for the very young integrates two primary aspects of early development: supportive, attentive and affection-based relationships; and self-initiated, natural progression of motor development without adult interference.
The Pikler approach and the EYFS have much in common. They share many of the same principles and recognise the importance of attachment, the key person approach and physical development. However, the EYFS provides only a framework to work within, a checklist of practice and suggestions about how to improve it. The value of the Pikler approach is that it offers all types of early years setting a single, dependable method of judging and delivering consistent, high-quality provision for children up to three years old.
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