The New Early Years Curriculum

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It is now widely recognised and supported by research that the most critical stage of a child’s development falls before the age of 12, particularly in the first three years of life. Early experiences and developing relationships are therefore fundamental to brain development (Kotulak 1975: 5). Unfortunately for some children, the negative influences and experiences that they are subjected to at an early age, can have a profound and lasting effect on them in later life. With this in mind, the central foundations upon which any child’s learning should start, is based on offering the child a stable, secure and loving environment in which they feel safe. Research suggests that lack of these positive influences in a child’s early years can have a significant impact on both cognitive development and health (Child 2005). The New Early Years framework offers a more holistic, child centred approach, which will take into account all aspects of the child’s development including, physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social. It is essential that an all-inclusive approach is adopted, to ensure that every child, regardless of their disabilities or socio-cultural background, has an equal opportunity to learn and develop their skills and attributes in a way that maximises their potential for a fulfilled life. The context of the curriculum offers a rich responsive environment, both indoors and outdoors, with access to a wide variety of learning materials and equipment, suitable for all ages and abilities. Recognition is also given to the fact, that each individual child has a different level of development, learning style, interests and experiences. The key focus of this child centred approach is to tailor teaching methods to meet the individual needs of the child and to ensure that the learning that takes place is at a pace that is comfortable for the child.
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