Early Childhood Learning and Edutainment

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Early Childhood Learning and Edutainment

• Heidi Johnson Paul
• Headteacher

Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School
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• Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School in London
  Borough of Richmond upon Thames
• 3 7 year olds
• 232 children on roll
• Intake 78 are white British, 13 have English
  as an additional language 6 have learning
  difficulties
• Staffing each class has a teacher plus
  additional support from Teaching Assistants
• Children have access to a well resourced
  environment both inside and outside
• Children at our school achieve higher than
  national average in national tests
• Parents are positive, pro active and work in
  partnership with staff, school Governors and
  other school services

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The Learning Opportunity for 3 5 Year Olds in
England

• A great deal of learning and development takes
  place by the age of five and children can learn
  in a number of settings
• Nursery (3-4 year olds) and reception classes
  (4-5 year olds) in schools
• Day nurseries
• Early Years Centres
• Pre-school playgroups
• Private nurseries
• Childminders (registered adults who look after
  children in the home)
• All three and four year olds in England are
  entitled to free, part-time education for 2 ½
  hours per day, 33 weeks a year
• All those providing free early education must be
  registered with the Local Authority, work towards
  the Early Learning Goals and be inspected by
  education inspectors appointed by the Office for
  Standards in Education (Ofsted)

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The Foundation Stage Curriculum a Dedicated
Curriculum for Early Learners

• The Foundation Stage is a dedicated phase of
  learning with a dedicated curriculum for children
  aged three to five years (nursery through to the
  end of reception class)
• This phase is recognised as a distinct stage of
  learning when children learn best through active
  play which builds on a childs individual needs
  and interests
• The Early Learning Goals (ELGs) set out what most
  children are expected to achieve by the end of
  the Foundation Stage
• The ELGs help people who work with 3 5 year
  olds focus on what children need to learn

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The Six Areas of Learning

• There are six broad areas of learning
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy
• Mathematical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Creative development

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How do we as practitioners lead the learning?

• Children will have had a wide range of different
  experiences, skills and interests when they join
  a setting. A well resourced, well planned
  curriculum is needed to take their learning
  forward and to provide opportunities for all to
  succeed
• Each learning area has Early Learning Goals
• These set out the skills, understanding,
  knowledge and attitudes which it is hoped that
  children will reach or exceed by the end of the
  Foundation Stage
• Children will be at different stages of progress
  towards these goals depending on their age and
  stage of development
• Each learning area has Stepping Stones which
  describe childrens typical progress towards
  these goals
• One learning experience may develop a number of
  competences, skills and concepts across several
  learning areas
• Staff understand the need to take into account
  different childrens learning needs when planning
  learning experiences

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What does the learning look like?

• A balance between adult led learning and child
  led learning
• Practical learning experiences indoors and
  outdoors which reflect the 6 areas of learning,
  reflecting what children know about
• Well planned play that is both challenging and
  fun
• Time for exploration children need to have time
  and scope to follow their investigations and
  practical learning
• Space to move around, to work on the floor, table
  tops, individual work as well as working in
  groups
• Independence is encouraged through well organised
  and accessible classrooms
• Role of the adult is crucial in supporting and
  developing childrens learning
• Learning needs to be fun and enjoyable where
  children explore, investigate, discover, create,
  practise, rehearse, repeat, revise and
  consolidate their developing knowledge, skills,
  understanding and attitudes.

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How do we know what progress children are making
with their learning?

• Throughout the school year, adults in the setting
  carry out observations and make assessments of
  childrens learning
• Based on evidence of what children know,
  understand and can do, adults in the setting plot
  the progress of each child against the Stepping
  Stones in each of the six areas
• At the end of the Foundation Stage, a formal
  assessment called the Foundation Stage Profile is
  made. This summarises each childs achievement of
  the ELGs and covers all six areas
• This information is analysed and passed on to the
  next teacher

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What difference does the curriculum make to
learners?

• The principles for Early Years education can be
  seen in good and effective practice in settings
• These principles promote
• - physical, intellectual and social
  development
• - positive relationships, security and self
  confidence
• - Inclusion
• - Partnership between home and school
• All of these impact on standards some which can
  be measured, some of which are much harder to
  measure
• A firm foundation for later learning

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Working with Parents

• An obvious partnership a two-way flow of
  information, knowledge and expertise
• Where parents and early years settings work
  closely together, children achieve better
• Meetings, questionnaires, family learning
  sessions, parents helping in settings
• All parents are made to feel welcome and valued
• Learning and play activities such as reading and
  playing games, are continued at home. Experiences
  at home such as special occasions are used to
  develop learning in the setting

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Early Childhood Learning and Entertainment

• What do you think?
• Education?
• Entertainment?
• Both?
• Questions and discussion

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Further Information and Help

• info_at_hamptonwick.richmond.sch.uk
• www.hamptonwick.richmond.sch.uk
• www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/EarlyLearni
  ngForUnderFives
• www.surestart.gov.uk
• www.dfes.gov.uk