Characteristics of Effective Learning
As well as considering what opportunities we are providing for children we also observe the skills and qualities that children need to support them to become successful learners throughout life. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance which looks at the overall development of the children. There are three characteristics of effective learning which are:
| Playing and Exploring - ENGAGEMENT | Active Learning - MOTIVATION | Creative and Critical Thinking- THINKING |
| (Finding, Exploring, , Playing, Willingness to 'Have a Go') | (Being Involved and Concentrating, Keeping Trying, Enjoying and Achieving What they Set out to do) | (Having their own Ideas, Making Links, Choosing ways to do Things) |
| Providing stimulating resources which are accessible and open-ended so they can be used, moved and combined in a variety of ways and making sure resources are relevant to children’s interests. Ensures that the children at Little Rosie's are encouraged to show curiosity about objects, events and people. Use their senses to explore the world around them and engage in open-ended activity. Our provision is arranged to be flexible indoor and outdoor with space and resources whereby children can explore, build, move and role play. Quiet areas are provided to help children concentrate by limiting noise, and making spaces visually calm for them. We plan first-hand experiences for the children to seek challenges and have a go. | Children will become more deeply involved when you provide something that is new and unusual for them to explore, especially when it is linked to their interests. We notice what arouses children’s curiosity, looking for signs of deep involvement to identify learning that is intrinsically motivated. The practitioners are skilled to ensure children have time and freedom to become deeply involved in activities, and to allow children to maintain focus on things that interest them over a period of time. | Developing a learning community which focuses on how and not just what we are learning. Allows the children to freely express their thought process and gives them the opportunity to be confident with not only sharing ideas, but having the opportunity to follow them through. When planning activities, we consider opportunities for children to find their own ways to represent and develop their own ideas, opportunities for children to play with materials before using them in planned tasks and give them key opportunities to think creatively and flexibility. We recognise the importance of predictable routines to allow for children to link experiences and to give a safe and secure environment to discover and follow through with their own ideas. |
At Little Rosie's we believe that like adults, children learn best when they are self motivated and interested. For young children, play is their work.
"Adults who encourage children’s dispositions to learn establish warm, trusting relationships with children. These adults are able to enter the child’s world, recognise his or her interests, dilemmas and concerns and have a conversation that encourages further thinking."