Nursery World - How children learn: part 1

In the first of a three-part series, Jan Dubiel sets out 12 key ‘Learning Behaviours’ that should underpin education in the early years

'Critical' learning behaviours need to be understood by practitioners.

Part of our responsibility is to prepare our children for an increasingly unpredictable future, and within this, the importance of quality in early childhood education (ECE) is becoming ever more paramount.

The concept of quality itself is contested, heavily subject to perceptions and positions regarding the purpose of education (in general and ECE in particular). However, it is becoming more obvious that a clearer, more coherent consensus is required that draws upon evidence and the aspirations of the outcomes we intend.

The stakes are now higher than ever. We have always known the importance of early childhood experiences and how they affect both immediate and long-term trajectories for success (in all aspects of life). However, the impact and consequences of the pandemic and the rapidly changing social, economic, environmental and technological landscape have further intensified the spotlight on how we provide appropriate educational experiences for children in ECE and establish the appropriate ‘groundwork’ to enable success.

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