1. Develop children's memory by including opportunities in the regular routine.
* Provide activities that require children to recall events like balloon printing to prompt discussions about birthdays.
* Act as scribe to record children's stories about their experiences.
2. As children develop so their attention span is extended.
* Over one week, list activities and opportunities you have observed where a child has been allowed to watch or listen and take in information.
* Communicate praise and encouragement to children who have been concentrating on an activity. Your assessor will directly observe this action.
* Describe how to minimise distractions in your setting to encourage the development of memory and attention span.
3. Plan experiences that are developmentally appropriate.
* There are many ways to raise children's sensory awareness. In a 'children of the world' project, plan to look at, smell, feel and taste fruits of the world. Inform parents of this activity.
* Put small everyday objects in a bag and ask the children to identify them by touch alone.
4. Be aware, and take advantage, of unplanned opportunities for sensory experiences.
* Go on a 'sensory walk'. Write an account for your portfolio.
* Unplanned activities might include exploring objects brought from home or for the interest table, or experiences in the setting like the smell of food cooking and traffic noises.
5. There are many opportunities for developing science and mathematics.
* Cookery provides a wealth of opportunities for weighing, counting, temperature and change of state, in addition to sensory experiences.
6. Ensure activities are inclusive.
* In all of your plans identify ways of including children with special needs.
7. Whenever possible, model language that develops children's understanding of the concepts they are exploring.
* Some of the words and phrases that are likely to be appropriate are: bigger than, the same as, the shortest, matching, floating, sinking, measure, square, circle, light and heavy. Devise activities to develop the understanding of these concepts.
* Time is a difficult concept to understand. Reinforce learning through stories and discussing events a long time ago, today, yesterday, tomorrow, etc.
8. Provide resources for child-led creative activities.
* Without giving direction or expecting an identifiable end product, provide paper in various sizes and paint textured with materials such as sawdust and glitter.
9. Encourage children to explore non-stereotypical roles.
* Set up the imaginative corner as a fire station, an aircraft.
* Provide cardboard boxes with which to make dens and imaginative locations. Record what you expect the children to learn from the experience, and evaluate what happens.
10. Top tip! Advice from Vivienne Ware, NVQ Assessor in Early Years at Brooksby Melton College: 'Make it interesting enough to provide a challenge.'