1.1 Explain each of the areas of learning and development and how these are interdependent.
The EYFS has characteristics that help practitioners understand how the children are learning and what they need to provide the children to progress. Characteristics help children become motivated and keep trying the things that they are not good at. The prime area is split into three sections:
-personal, social and emotional development
-communication and language
-physical development
The specific area is split into four sections:
-literacy
-mathematics
-expressive arts and design
-understanding of the world
Prime areas are the ones that children are expected to learn first. If they are not taught correctly this could affect the specific areas. The prime areas are all interconnected.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT involves providing children with experiences and support which will help them to develop a positive sense of themselves and of others, respect for others, social skills and a positive disposition to learn. Providers must ensure support for children’s emotional well-being to help them to know themselves and what they can do.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT involves giving the children opportunities to experience a rich language environment, to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
PHISICAL DEVELOPMENT involves supporting in using all their senses to learn about the world around them and to make connections between new information and what they already know.
The physical development of babies and young children must be encouraged through the provision of opportunities for them to be active and interactive and improve their skills in coordination, control, manipulation and movement.
They also must be supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.
LITERACY DEVELOPMENT involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of materials such as books, poems and other written materials to ignite their interest.
MATHEMATICS involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve skills in counting, describing shapes, spaces and measures, understanding and using numbers and calculating simple addition and subtraction problems.
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in music, art, movement, role play, design and technology, dance.
It is important to remember that these six areas of learning do not work in isolation but are in fact interlinked. Good quality activities will cover more than one area of development. For example: allowing children to access the outdoors will not only support their physical development, but encourage their communication and exploration of their environment. Where a child experiences delays in one area it is likely to limit their learning and development in the others; It is therefore vital that settings recognise each child’s individual needs and plan holistically in order to help children achieve their full potential across the areas of development
1 Describe the documented outcomes for children that form part of the relevant early years framework. (‘Documented outcomes’ refers to the Early Learning Goals within the Early Years Foundation Stage framework).
The EYFS was designed to ensure that all children regardless of where they live or their family