Early child development

Find classroom activities and ideas to promote the prime areas of learning in the EYFS. From tips on how to recognise child-initiated play to activities on nurturing creativity and developing communication, literacy and language, get practical resources to ensure early child development is at the core of your early years setting.

Promoting reading fluency
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Physical activities to underpin personal, social and emotional development
Jenni Clarke looks at the connection between physical development and the other prime areas of learning, personal, social and emotional development and communication and language
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Developing core motor skills in the early years
Core motor skills are a vital part of everyday life and learning. Early years lead Vicky Mitchell shares practical strategies for developing confident movers and handlers
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Webinar: Ten tips to recognise and organise child-initiated play
Learning through play is the most powerful way for children to develop understanding. Anna Ephgrave explains how early years leaders can enhance these opportunities for the best learning and how to know when it is helpful to intervene, prompt and question
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Festive celebrations with early years
In many cultures there are celebrations involving light. Use these suggestions to integrate the themes of light and celebrations with activities in your early years setting
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Encouraging independent reflective learning in the early years
Your learning environment should offer children a range of challenges. Neil Farmer explores a range of solutions from discrete challenges and shared success criteria to child-initiated and adult-led learning
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Exploring light and dark with early years
Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss the benefits of playing with light and dark with early years children, offering thinking skills activity ideas
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Working with two-year-old children in mixed-age settings
Leoarna Mathias looks at the issues surrounding providing high quality early years education and care for two-year-olds
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Bright ideas for maths from small world play
Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton suggest ways to use small world play to encourage not only imaginative play but mathematics learning too
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Early years teaching: Ofsted good practice summary
In the early years teaching and play are not separate entities. Owen Carter summarises Ofsted’s good practice survey and highlights their key recommendations
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Early child development

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