The principles that should underpin putting the Early Years Foundation Stage into practice are set out by Julie Fisher in this excerpt from the revised edition of Starting from the Child.

What strategies do early childhood educators need to consider if they are to build on what is known about the way in which young children learn?

YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN BY BEING ACTIVE

If young children learn naturally by being active in engaging in a range of exploratory experiences, then the primary responsibility of the school or early years setting is to plan opportunities that facilitate and support these instinctive strategies.

Children need the opportunity to engage with a range of materials and stimuli. They need time and space to explore, investigate and question. They need a range of play experiences and resources of good quality. They need, in other words, a learning environment that offers concrete experiences that are relevant, meaningful and worthy of active involvement.

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