The curriculum
The curriculum is the overall plan of what children should learn, experience, and develop during their early years.
It’s usually holistic, focusing not only on academic skills but also on social, emotional, physical, and creative development.
- Play-based learning: Children learn through play, exploration, and interaction.
- Developmentally appropriate: Activities match children’s stages of growth and individual needs.
- Integrated learning: Subjects like language, math, art, and science are often woven together through themes or projects.
- Focus areas
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social, and emotional development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Teaching
In early years this doesn’t always look like traditional instruction. It blends guided play, modelling, interaction, and intentional teaching.
Effective teaching practices include:
- Scaffolding learning: Supporting children’s play and thinking by asking questions, extending ideas, or introducing new vocabulary.
- Observation and responsiveness: Teachers watch and listen to children to understand their interests and needs, then plan activities accordingly.
- Creating rich environments: Classrooms are designed to stimulate curiosity and independence.
- Balancing approaches: A mix of child-initiated and adult-led activities ensures both freedom and structure.
Assessment
Assessment is the process of understanding what children know, can do, and how they are developing.
It’s usually formative — ongoing and used to guide teaching rather than judge performance.
Methods include:
- Observation: Watching children play and interact.
- Learning journals: Collecting photos, samples of work, and notes.
- Conversations with children and families: Gaining insight into learning at home and in school.
- Developmental milestones or frameworks: Comparing progress with age-appropriate expectations (e.g., EYFS Early Learning Goals).
Purpose:
- To support each child’s learning journey.
- To plan next steps in teaching.
- To communicate progress with families.