By Samantha Jones-
Ofsted has published a report showing the strategy used by educators in boosting early education for children born in lockdown to compensate for the loss of not immediately attending school.
The review underpins the inspectorate’s new strategic focus on early education and giving children ‘the best start in life’ following the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Ofsted said today’s report which encompasses a broad range of factors, draws on wide published research to consider how early years practitioners deliver high-quality education for children from birth to 4 years old. The Uk education system has always had a strategic approach for nurturing the learning of children in their early years, though parents are also expected to do a lot to enhance its overall effect through reading and practise.
It included broad research into the various factors that can positively influence the quality of education provided and promoting the status of jobs in early years by boosting the qualifications of early years staff
increasing the level of pay in order to maximise the quality of teaching given to pupils.
It also takes into account cognitive science about how children learn and the relevant areas of learning for children. to enable them to reach ambitious end points by the end of their time in the early years.
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A coherently planned and well-sequenced curriculum enables children to make progress by knowing more, understanding more and being able to do more.
The early years curriculum enables all children to make progress in the areas of learning by providing the building blocks of knowledge for subjects that children will study in later years.
While it doesn’t include formal subjects, it prepares children for later learning in those formal subjects by using traditional story books, together with language such as ’a long time ago’, to help children develop foundational knowledge for learning history later on.
Other Studies
Other studies have identified concerning findings about the early years workforce. A report by the Nuffield Foundation has described the early years workforce as poorly paid and undervalued.
The House of Commons Education Committee considers that barriers to progression for early years teachers should be removed in order to improve the recruitment and retention of a skilled, high-quality early years workforce. Practitioners have reported that a positive team culture and inclusive, approachable managers were strong motivators for staff to stay in the workplace in the longer term.
It stresses the importance of early education providers to offer plenty of opportunities for all children to learn and practise speaking and listening, adding that some children may need additional support because of the ongoing effects of COVID-19 restrictions.
The report also emphasises the value of play and teaching, and the importance of developing communication skills, considers what information all children should learn, and prioritises communication, as well as plenty of opportunity for disadvantaged children, or those who speak English as an additional language, to learn and practise speaking and listening.
Children with gaps in their knowledge get the additional teaching they need so that they can access the same curriculum as their peers.
Practitioners consider children’s interests when choosing activities. They also expand children’s interests so they make progress in all areas of learning.
Children’s play is valued and used to teach many aspects of the curriculum. Learning through play is enhanced by skilful adult intervention.
Practitioners introduce children to new knowledge through explicit teaching and follow this up with practice through play.
Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said:
Every child deserves a good early education. Their first few years equip children with the building blocks they need to succeed in childhood and beyond.
Many children in nurseries or childcare began life during the pandemic and have had to catch up with communication and social skills. Early years practitioners have worked hard to teach children things they’ve missed and to embed that knowledge through play. I hope our review helps them – and highlights the vital work that they do introducing children to education.
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