Understanding early years education | An in depth guide into how early years education is taught

Understanding early years education, teaching, and learning opportunities can feel intimidating. Each child is different and will require various techniques to help them learn and develop. Early years education is undertaken differently across each educational setting. As a parent, it is important to find the right school and early years setting for your child. What you value in education and life will ultimately determine the place you choose. Here is a guide to help you understand the various ways in which early years education is taught and the benefits of specific topics. If you’d like to learn more about a typical day in Reception at Heathfield Knoll, read our blog here.

Teaching methods in early years education

There are many strategies and methods used to teach in early years. While each setting is individual, many schools and early years settings offer a combination of teaching activities and experiences to suit the individuals who attend. Some schools specialise in one particular method of teaching, so it will be important as a parent to understand in detail the different methods before selecting a school or early years education setting.

Montessori

The Montessori method of teaching is one of the most commonly mentioned methods. The Montessori method focuses on a few key factors such as:

Specifically prepared environments

These environments are pre prepared. They include different play stations that will focus on specific areas of learning, from Literacy, maths, science, social skills and more. The children will have free access to these playstations and will be able to explore at their own pace.

Natural toys and materials

The specially designed play environment will include a wide range of natural materials and toys made from natural materials. This is designed to help stimulate the individual senses and encourage important skills such as imagination, creativity, and problem solving.

Reggio Emilia

The Reggio Emilia method is lesser known but has many benefits. This method focuses on the belief that there are many ways and languages in which a child expresses themselves. Such as; verbal communication, creative pursuits, body language, and more. This approach allows children to take an active role in learning and allows them to follow topics based on their interests. The education setting is also considered a “third teacher”, and provides a setting in which the teachers can learn from the children as well as the children learning from their teachers. This process is highly documented through the child’s education.

Curiosity approach

The curiosity approach is considered a predecessor of the Montesorri method and Steiner approach. The curiosity approach to teaching involves everyday items instead of pre-made modern toys. This allows the children to use their imagination and creativity, as well as improve problem-solving skills and more. The curiosity approach is a play-based approach in which children learn through play.

Benefits of learning through play

There are many benefits of learning through play. Important skills are gained through play which can be used and adapted later in life, such as:

Confidence and self esteem
Social interaction and independence
Curiosity
Problem solving skills and coping with challenges

Developing social skills is a key part of early development. Children learn to cooperate with their peers as well as communicate with others. Children also work on listening skills and paying attention to what is happening around them. Another benefit of learning through play is the physical development that goes hand in hand with play. As we all know, physical development is essential for young children to develop. From fine motor skills to agility, stamina, and coordination. Play encourages all of these skills to develop.

The characteristics of effective teaching and learning are statutory and are referenced in the EYFS (2021).

Overall, the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning focus on the processes of learning, the thinking that is applied and the attitudes that are being displayed. Practitioners look for those teachable moments to encourage, support and model all of the positive behaviours involved in each characteristic, which in turn will help children develop into effective learners. They are referred to in the Overarching Principles which states that: In planning and guiding what children learn, practitioners must reflect on the different rates at which children are developing and adjust their practice appropriately. Three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:

playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things’

The importance of phonics and literacy in early years education

Phonics and literacy are an essential part of early years education. Phonics and literacy are the first steps a child will take in their journey to reading and writing comprehension. Phonics begins with recognising and creating sounds. It develops to allow children to recognise a letter by sight and the sound it should make. This skill allows them to blend sounds together to build words as they begin to read. They also segment sounds in words in order to write them. As we all know, not all words sound the same and certain letters make other sounds. There is much for a child to learn, strategies for them to use and will include recognition of ‘tricky’ words. At Heathfield Knoll School and Nursery, phonics is delivered through a fully validated systematic synthetic phonics scheme which has Dfe approval. Super Sonic Phonic Friends enables children to develop the skills needed to be ready to begin phonics lessons. Literacy is also an essential skill that is started during early years education. Being able to read and write is something that each child should be able to do. Enjoying listening to and making up stories are both key to future development. Literacy also links to many other aspects of your child’s education and will help form the basis of their learning and overall development, from helping them communicate with people effectively to understanding the world around them.

The importance of mathematics in early years education

Beyond the essential understanding of numbers, numeracy in early years education provides other valuable skills. Numeracy in early years education helps children to make sense of their environment and improves their vocabulary as well as their mathematical skills and knowledge. Early years Numeracy education provides the basis for children to build on. Numerical skills in everyday life are essential for us all to thrive in the world. Numbers are logical and for this reason, numeracy can provide a sense of grounding for many children where abstract thinking and understanding proves more complex. Alongside numbers, children explore shape, space and measure, developing critical thinking and reasoning skills.

The benefits of outdoor education

As more and more research is done into early years education, one thing is clear that is the vast amount of benefits that outdoor education provides. Learning outdoors boosts confidence for many children. They get to explore and follow their curiosity within the safe parameters the teacher has set out. Learning outdoors provides children with the opportunity to learn about the environment as well as many other valuable life skills and lessons.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning focuses on several key skills:

Developing relationships between students and the natural world
Fostering resilience
Improving confidence and self-esteem
Developing environment appropriate skills, such as: campfire building, whittling, den building and more
Providing an environment where appropriate risks can be taken and which allows children to explore their own boundaries. It also supports self-awareness and safety skills.

With such a focus on technology in education, providing children with access to the outdoors provides a balance we all seek. Allowing children to explore the natural environment and understand it helps to build on their understanding of the world and the key skills that traditional educational programmes offer. Such as; communication, risk assessment, boundaries, social skills and more. At Heathfield Knoll School and Nursery, outdoor learning is more than just climbing trees and digging holes. Set within 30 acres of mixed woodland in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside, we use the nature around us to aid and enhance learning and development.

Physical education

Physical education supports many other skills. It also develops team building, cooperation and benefits health, both physically and mentally. Physical education in an outdoor setting is also extremely important, it allows children to experience the different seasons, how winds can affect their performance; or how a ball/item is affected by this and adjust accordingly. Early years education is an essential part of a child’s development as it focuses on many skills we will carry forward into our everyday lives. Early years education is the foundation on which the rest of their education is built. Understanding how it is taught can help you as a parent choose the right school for your child. Children in our early years settings are able to benefit from indoor and outdoor facilities which helps promote physical education. The children have regular access to a well-equipped sports hall, astro turf area and beautiful surrounding woodland, meadows, and fields in which they can run, explore and engage with nature and their environment. If you are looking for independent early years education settings contact our admin team now. Here at Heathfield Knoll, we focus on an all-encompassing, holistic approach to children’s education.

10th February 2023

Education

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