Characteristics of effective teaching and learning
In planning and guiding children’s activities in the Early Years, students should show an awareness of the different ways in which children learn. The characteristics of effective teaching and learning highlighted in the statutory guidance for the EYFS are:
- Playing and exploring: allowing children to investigate and explore
- Active learning: children display concentration and persistence, resilience if things go wrong and enjoyment of their achievements
- Creating and thinking critically: children are allowed to develop their own ideas, make connections with prior knowledge and experiences and develop strategies for achieving their goals
The following questions may be helpful in guiding your observation:
- Does the planning build upon prior learning and observations and does it incorporate opportunities for observation and assessment?
- Is the planning for the TA and other adults effective in facilitating and supporting the children’s learning?
- Is the learning environment used effectively both indoors and outdoors?
- Are there a range of activities supporting the prime and specific areas of learning as set out in the EYFS?
Prime:
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Physical development
- Personal, Emotional and Social development
Specific:
- Literacy
- Maths
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
- Are all the children actively engaged either at self-directed activities or adult led tasks?
- Do the children understand the activities and know the rules and boundaries?
- Is the student questioning and challenging the children’s thinking, and are the children encouraged to ask questions?
- Does the student have high expectations of the children?
- Is the carpet time/adult input relevant, engaging and kept to a minimum?
- Is the student supporting the language development of all children including those with emotional barriers to learning and those learning English as an Additional Language?