Unit 14: Understanding the world: people, culture and communities

People, culture and communities is one of the three aspects of understanding the world, one of the four specific areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children are expected to reach the early learning goal at the end of the EYFS in the reception year at primary school.

All staff need to be confident of their role in developing children’s understanding of this area of learning and development whatever the age of the children they work with. It is important to remember that different approaches are appropriate for different ages of children and different children will progress in their understanding at different rates.

Participants will:

• know the early learning goal in relation to people, culture and communities
• understand how to interact with children to aid their understanding of people, culture and communities
• know how to organise the environment and recognise what resources will support children in this area of understanding the world
• gain confidence in planning for this area of learning and development for children of different ages and stages.

Step 1: Introduction (5–10 minutes)
Step 2: Ideas to support the goal (10–15 minutes)
Step 3: Plan an activity (5–10 minutes)