Naning's New Garden : Living in UK..............: July 2009

This article doesn’t mean to compare PAUD Systems in Indonesia and Education for children under five years old in the UK’s System. I just want to share my experience during I attended “Learning through Play” course for 6 weeks. The course has finished last week, and I am writing here to remember all of my classmates and both of my tutors. I enjoyed joining this class. I hope what I have gained from this class would be useful for myself, my family (especially for my children) and might be, for the other people who read this story.

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) is designed to set the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five in United Kingdom. IYFS Principles consist of 4 main areas to be learned and obtained. They are: A unique child areas, Positive relationship matters, Enabling Environments and the last one is Learning and Development areas.

A unique child understands that every child is a competent learner even from their birth. They can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. This area is exploring child development through inclusive practice, keeping safe, and health and well-being.

Positive relationships is the second area which EYFS concerned for how children learn to be strong and independent from base of loving and secure relationships with parents and or a key person. Respecting each other by ways of understanding children feelings, being friendships and build professional relationships with the children are good attitudes to support children learning. It is also the way of effective teaching. Parents is a partners for children, we can learn together with children and make a good communication.

The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. EYFS concern how we can make observation, assessment, and planning to support our children’s needs, learning about journey and working together in group or social. Children need to learn their environment; it includes emotional environment, outdoor environment, and indoor environment. In the wider context, we have to deliberate transitions and continuity, multi-agency working in children and the community involvement.

Learning and Development area, it plays more in learning through experience, active learning, creativity and critical thinking. Active learning push children in mental and physical involvement, decision making and personalized learning. Through creativity and critical thinking, children could make a little connection, transforming understanding and sustained shared thinking. For little example, making ply dough, children can learn how to make dough from some raw materials, and create many shapes from them. Build children creativity, understanding and curiosity. Push children to react with their own decision, ask questions and make a good discussion with them. Moreover, this activity could improve their personal, emotional, and social development. It would build good communication, language and literacy.

Still more information I got from this course. There is no enough time I am telling here. We learned from a little thing such as exploring a children songs, ply dough, make a bubbles, children food end many things. In the end of every physical activity we make connection with EYFS Principles. It leads to how to apply in children learning. I much like it and hope the best for the future….