Developmental Psychology and Good Quality Activities

1.1 It is important to remember that these six areas of learning do not work in isolation but are in fact interlinked. Good quality activities will cover more than one area of development. For example, allowing children to access the outdoors will not only support their physical development, but encourage their communication and exploration of their environment. Where a child experiences a delay in one area, it is likely to limit their learning and development in the other five...a child with cerebral palsy who experiences hand-eye coordination difficulties is likely to find completing a puzzle difficult therefore hindering her problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. It is therefore vital that settings recognise each child’s individual needs and plan holistically in order to help children achieve their full potential across the six areas of learning.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Dispositions and attitudes
• Self confidence and attitudes
• Making relationships
• Behaviour and self control
• Self care
• Sense of community

Communication, Language and Literacy
• Language for communication
• Language for thinking
• Linking sounds and letters
• Reading
• Writing
• Handwriting

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
• Numbers as labels and for counting
• Calculating
• Shapes, space and measures

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Exploration and investigation
• Designing and making
• ICT
• Time
• Place
• Communities
Physical Development
• Movement and space
• Health and bodily awareness
• Using equipment and materials

Creative Development
• Being creative/responding to experiences, expressing and communicating ideas
• Exploring media and materials
• Creating music and dance
• Developing imagination and imaginative play
1.2 We assess and record all the children’s observations and document them in their learning journeys.