Inclusive Practice: Your guide to being a fully inclusive setting - Part 4 - Learning and Development

Each article provides some important background information on policy, some real-life case studies and examples of Principles Into Practice, and a list of useful resources. There are also some questions to challenge your own understanding and practice.

The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, page 9, states, 'Learning and Development recognises that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates, and that all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.'

Play and exploration

Children are born as naturally curious beings and we must encourage their curiosity through our provision of opportunities to explore and play. Every child will have their own unique way of interacting and experiencing their world, depending on their preferred learning styles and any special learning needs that they may have. They will all respond emotionally and intellectually to sensory experiences as they try to make sense of the world around them. Our role is to ensure that we provide a rich and varied environment of first-hand experiences, both indoors and outdoors, in which the children follow their own needs and interests.