All Modules B6-Development Matters in the early years | Page 5
The Characteristics of Effective Learning and the prime and specific
Areas of Learning and Development are all interconnected.
• The ways in which the child engages with
other people and their environment – playing
and exploring, active learning, and creating
and thinking critically – underpin learning and
development across all areas and support the child
to remain an effective and motivated learner.
• The prime areas begin to develop quickly in
response to relationships and experiences, and
run through and support learning in all other areas.
The prime areas continue to be fundamental
throughout the EYFS.
• The specific areas include essential skills and
knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas,
and provide important contexts for learning.
Prime areas are fundamental, work
together, and move through to
support development in all other
areas.
The Unique Child reaches out to
relate to people and things through
the Characteristics of Effective
Learning, which move through all
areas of learning.
• playing and exploring
• Personal, Social and Emotional
Development
• active learning
• Communication and Language
• creating and thinking critically
• Physical Development
Unique
Child
Children develop in the
context of relationships
and the environment
around them.
This is unique to each
family, and reflects
individual communities
and cultures.
Specific areas include essential
skills and knowledge for children to
participate successfully in society.
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
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