“The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner”.

Development Matters (Page 4, 2012)

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Guidance identifies the following characteristics as being crucial for effective learning.

Playing and exploring – engagement

Finding out and exploring

Playing with what they know

Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active Learning – motivation

Being involved and concentrating

Keeping trying

Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

Having their own ideas

Making links

Choosing ways to do things

There are 7 areas of Learning and Development:

  • The 3 prime areas begin to develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences, and run through and support learning in all other areas. The prime areas continue to be fundamental throughout the EYFS.
  • The 4 specific areas include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas, and provide important contexts for learning.
Area of Learning and Development Aspect
Prime Areas
Personal, Social and Emotional Development Making relationships
Self-confidence and self-awareness
Managing feelings and behaviour
Physical Development Moving and handling
Health and self-care
Communication and Language Listening and attention
Understanding
Speaking
Specific Areas
Literacy Reading
Writing
Mathematics Numbers
Shape, space and measure
Understanding the World People and communities
The world
Technology
Expressive Arts and Design Exploring and using media and materials
Being imaginative