Characteristics of Effective Learning

At Precious Steps we understand that all children engage with other people and their environment through the characteristics of effective learning that are described in the Early Years Foundation Stage as:

Playing and exploring – engagement
Active learning – motivation
Creating and thinking critically – thinking

We aim to provide for the characteristics of effective learning by observing how a child is learning and being clear about what we can do and provide in order to support each child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

Learning Through Play

Being active and playing supports young children’s learning and development through doing and talking. This is how children learn to think about and understand the world around them. A child will only learn effectively if what’s on offer interests them.

Precious Steps use the EYFS statutory guidance on education programmes to plan and provide opportunities which will help children to make progress in all areas of learning. This programme is made up of a mixture of activities that children plan and organise for themselves and activities planned and led by practitioners. We monitor children’s progress throughout their time with us; we plan, record and assess our children through an online programme – TAPESTRY parents and carers are able to access their child/children’s learning journals through the APP. This means we are able to work closer with you when planning for their Next Steps of learning as your input is invaluable.

“Children’s play was a form of self-expression that enabled them both to release their real feelings safely and to rehearse ways of dealing with a range of emotions. Play was the vehicle for development, the ‘breath of life to the child, since it is through play activities that he finds mental ease, and can work upon his wishes, fears and fantasies so as to integrate them into a living personality”

Susan Isaacs, 1885-1948 quote

Our Curriculum

Precious Steps use the EYFS statutory guidance on education programmes to plan and provide opportunities which will help children to make progress in all areas of learning. This programme is made up of a mixture of activities that children plan and organise for themselves and activities planned and led by practitioners. We monitor children’s progress throughout their time with us; we plan, record and assess our children through an online programme – TAPESTRY parents and carers are able to access their child/children’s learning journals through the APP. This means we are able to work closer with you when planning for their Next Steps of learning as your input is invaluable.

Communication & Language

* Listening, attention and understanding
* Speaking

Physical Development

* Gross motor skills
* Fine motor skills

Understanding the world

* Past and present
* People, culture and communities
* The natural world

Personal, Social & Emotional

* Self regulation
* Managing self
* Building relationships

Literacy

* Comprehension
* Wording reading
* Writing

Expressive Arts and Designs

* Creating with materials
* Being imaginative and expressive

Mathematics

* Number
* Number patterns