Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning

We use the 3 characteristics of effective teaching and learning (Statutory framework for the early

Years foundation stage 2021) in planning and guiding what and how children learn. Our staff reflect

on the different rates at which children develop and adjust their practice appropriately.

Playing and Exploring - Children investigate and explore things and ‘have a go’

• Realise that their actions have an effect on the world, so they want to keep repeating them.

• Reach for and accept objects. Make choices and explore different resources and materials.

• Plan think ahead about how they will explore or play with objects.

• Guide their own thinking and actions by talking to themselves while playing e.g saying aloud

what they are doing or will do next.

• Make independent choices

• Do things independently that they have previously been shown.

• show their own interests and fascinations to help develop their learning.

• Respond to new experiences that you bring to their attention.

Active Learning – Children concentrate, keep trying even with difficulties and enjoys achievements

• Participate in routines

• Begin to predict sequences because they know the routine.

• Show goal-directed behaviour such as using a block to stand on to reach something which is

too high.

• Use a range of strategies to reach a goal they have set themselves.

• Begin to correct their mistakes themselves e.g instead of forcing incorrect puzzle piece they

will try another piece to see if it will fit.

• Keep on trying when things are difficult. Participate in trial and error and adapt to achieve.

Creating and thinking Critically – Children have and develop own ideas, make links, develop

strategies

• Take part in simple pretend play

• Sort materials e.g at tidy up time

• Review their progress as they try to achieve a goal. Check how well they are doing.

• Solve real problems e.g sharing 9 strawberries between 3 or fairly setting out cards for a

game.

• Use pretend play to think beyond here and now and to understand another perspective e.g

suggesting the troll from the 3 Billy Goats Gruff is lonely and hungry and that is why he is

fierce.

• Feel confident about making their own ideas known. Make links between those ideas.

• Concentrate on achieving something. Able to control their attention and ignore distractions