Promote Learning and Development in Early Years

Promote Learning and Development in the Early Years

The Early Years Framework (EYFS) has been the current framework used in Early Years childcare since 2008 (and will be updated in September 2012). It came about as an improvement to the quality of care for children from birth to the end of their Reception year in school. It is statutory in the UK and means that all providers have to legally follow it. This is to give children the same opportunities of a good education throughout the country.

The current EYFS covers education, care, welfare and staff ratio requirements. Anyone who is working in an Early Years setting or who are registered to look after children under 5 has a responsibility to read the information relating to all the aspects of the EYFS and understand the structure.

The current EYFS has 6 areas of learning- these are as follows:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This area is concerned with children developing a positive sense of themselves and of others they will meet in their lives Our role in the setting to provide the with experiences and support which teaches and shows them respect for themselves and others, social skills, and a good positive disposition to learning. Support for this area of development is for us to support the emotional development and well-being of the children in our care helping them to know about what they can and about themselves. Personal, Social and Emotional development is split into 6 aspects as follows:

1. Dispositions and Attitudes: The setting role in this aspect is to provide activities and resources which are about interest, perseverance, levels of engagement and concentration. We have to provide opportunities for the children in our care that are stimulating and give them time to focus and give their attention to an activity. It is also about how having a positive approach to activities, how confident they are and how they take pleasure in their achievements it is also about the motivation they have to learn. Child initiated play is essential to help children work towards the early learning goals in this area of learning.

2. Self Confidence and self-esteem: these are very important elements in a child's development having self-confidence and self-esteem are strongly linked to how a child will achieve. In the setting it is our role to encourage and teach the children what they can do as well as praising, and helping them to express and become aware of their feelings and how to show them at appropriate times. It is also about how the relate to others and the sensitivity and respect they show towards others feelings. This aspect also covers the respect they have for their own and other people's cultures and beliefs. In the setting it essential that we have not only child initiated play but that we give the children opportunities to help each other.

3. Making Relationships: this aspect is all about helping the children in our setting to socialise. In our settings we have a key person for each child so that they can start to form a close relationship with an adult in the setting. Giving them this security and trusting relationships allows us to let them play freely and form their own friendships. It is from their that the child can learn with support to be caring towards others and learn how to negotiate for example take turns and share. It shows children that there are certain values and ways to behave when socialising with others, learning how to resolve their own difficulties. Social skills are about the child forming good relationships with the adults and peers within the setting and enjoying being with and talking to others.

4. Behaviour and self-control: Our role in this aspect is teaching children how to recognise and control their emotions and how to behave appropriately. It is part of our role in the setting to give children the opportunities to take responsibility e.g. preparing snack or helping set up equipment etc. Behaviour and self control is to start to help children to learn the difference between right and wrong and why and also to consider the consequences of their behaviour. This aspect also covers how to stand up for their own rights and the awareness of boundaries when in the setting and to show care and concern for other living things.

5. Self-Care: this aspect is about children managing their won every day needs such as dressing and eating. In the setting sufficient time should be allocated so that children can practice and develop their self care skills. It is also about taking pleasure in their own hygiene and understanding the need for it. Self-care is all about independence and being able to take their own initiatives and show confidence the setting environment.

6. Sense of Community: This is showing children that there are a member of group and that they belong. It is also about showing awareness, understanding and respect for others who are from different cultures or religions. It is also about the way they should expect people to react to their beliefs etc an awareness that they also should also have their views and culture treated with respect. It is also about enjoyment of the customs and routines that they have as part of their community and having a positive self-image. Our role is to ensure that we are good role-models to the children in the setting, respecting them and the adults that are in the setting.

This aspect of learning is intertwined with all the areas of learning, as if a child cannot develop and progress in this area it extremely difficult for us to be able to teach them the others. Social and Emotional Development when children first come into the setting is the most important area of learning. Enabling a child to become confident in the setting and be able to participate with the other adults and children is the first thing that needs to be established to enable them to enjoy and progress with their development. Children who come into the setting with strong social and emotional skills also often progress more rapidly in the other areas as they are self-confident and have high self-esteem and are already comfortable participating with other adults and children.

Key person working is very important in this area. Children are often very young coming into thes setting and giving them a person who they can learn to trust and feel confident with gives the confidence to start to be independent knowing that there is someone close who they can go to if they need support, often just knowing this is enough for them to progress.

Communication, Language and Literacy

This area