If you have any questions that have not been answered in this booklet, you can contact:

Harrow Families Information Service - telephone 020 8416 8416 an early years foundation stage setting near you a childminder, pre-school, nursery or school a childrens centre near you. If you do not know where the childrens centre is, contact the Harrow Families Information Service on 020 8416 8416.

This document has been produced by: Harrow Early Years and Community Services Teachers Centre Tudor Road Wealdstone HA3 5PQ (All the information in this booklet is correct at the time of printing.)
EY003

Playing is learning
A guide for parents and carers
Summer 2010

What do these words and phrases mean?

Childrens centre the centre in your local area that provides a range of services to families and young children. These might include advice, antenatal care, childcare or training. If you do not know where the childrens centre is, visit the website at www.childrenatthecentre.org.uk or contact the Harrow Families Information Service on 020 8416 8416. EYFS The Early Years Foundation Stage, an approach to care and learning that must be used by all early years settings to ensure that parents can be confident that their child will receive a quality experience to support their development and learning. Early years setting a place where a child receives care and education. This could be with a registered childminder, in a pre-school, nursery, Montessori setting or reception class in school. Harrow Families Information Service the service that provides information to families on childcare places, childcare training and career opportunities and information on working parents rights. Home language the language that you speak with your family at home. Including all children ensuring that every childs individual care and educational needs are met, including boys and girls from all language, cultural and faith groups and children with additional needs. Key person the practitioner in an early years and childcare setting with a particular responsibility for getting to know you and for establishing a close attachment with your child. Make marks draw or paint using chalk, pencils or another tool, or using fingers in water, paint, sand, mud or another substance. Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Childrens Services and Skills) the government body that registers and inspects early years settings and has legal powers to ensure that settings comply with the regulations surrounding childcare. Ofsted registered early years settings on Ofsteds register and inspected by Ofsted. Parent or carer this phrase refers to the mother, father, legal guardian or person who has responsibility for the care of a child. Practitioner a member of staff in an early years and childcare setting. Registered childminder a person who cares for children for payment, usually in his or her own home, and who registered and inspected by Ofsted.

All children love to learn

The years from birth to five are very special. Childrens first experiences prepare them for life and help to shape the people they become. Children learn first from those close to them. Their parents and carers are at the centre of their world. At this stage, childrens families can make the greatest difference. Children learn through their senses touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing from the moment of birth, and perhaps even before. Children learn everywhere, all the time.

You and your child

This booklet is for you as a parent or carer. It aims to show the beginning of the learning journey for your child. You will see how your child learns as he or she moves into an early years setting, either with a registered childminder, in a pre-school, nursery, Montessori setting or a reception class in school.

Learning at home
Young children are at the first stage of their learning journey. The learning journey continues throughout the rest of their lives. What can you as a parent or carer do to help your child? Is it all right for me to continue to speak my home language with my child? Yes it is, because it supports his or her learning. If your child learns your home language well, this will help him or her to learn English later. If I dont speak English myself, how will the practitioners in the setting make sure that I understand the information they want to give me? The practitioners in your childs early years setting will do their best to understand you and to help you to understand them. They will be happy for you to bring someone with you who speaks English and your home language. The practitioners may give you a translation of some important information, or they may find someone who speaks English and your home language. Will my child learn to read and write at an early years setting? The activities in the setting will start your childs learning journey towards these skills. It is more valuable for a young child to make marks with different types of paint or crayons, and to enjoy looking at books and the print that they see in the world around them. Later, your child will make marks that look like writing and will start to recognise familiar words. I am worried about my childs development. Where can I go for help? Contact your health visitor or your doctor, or tell your childs key person about your concerns. Every setting has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who can make sure your child has help if it is needed. Together, you can decide the best course of action. The setting may ask your permission to contact another service that can offer the right kind of help, or advise you to contact someone yourself. Can my child attend an early years setting if he or she is not yet toilet trained? Yes. All settings must have a policy of including all children. Your setting will work with you to help your child to become toilet trained. You may be asked to bring your own supplies of nappies, or the other items that your child needs. For more information call the Families Information Service on 020 8416 8416
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What children do: Children learn through all the experiences they share with you.

You can: talk about your childs interests, sing songs and rhymes from around the world, share books, share stories by dressing up in old clothes, play with everyday materials - spoons, pans or cardboard boxes. help your child talk, use facial expressions, watch and listen to his or her response. Your child may not say any words yet, but you can. create a quiet time each day when you listen to your child, talk to him or her in your home language and help your child listen to you. describe and comment on what you are doing together and ask questions about what to do next. encourage your child to try something new and share his or her pleasure and achievement. give your child choices by asking questions Which fruit do you want to eat? What colour socks do you want to wear? What game shall we play? Shall we go to the park now or later?

Children communicate from birth. Children continually practice their communication. Children learn to become confident. Children learn to be independent. Children learn to think independently.

Learning together will be rewarding and fun for you too.

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Frequently asked questions

Will I have to pay for my child to attend an early years setting? Many settings charge fees. Harrow Early Years and Community Services will fund part time nursery education places for three and four year olds. Eligibility for a funded place depends upon a childs third or fourth birthday. This does not apply to registered childminders. Parents and carers may choose a place of more than three hours and pay for those extra hours of care. Call FIS on 020 8416 8416 for full details. When should I apply for a place in an early years setting? Many settings have waiting lists so it is advisable to look at the early years settings you are interested in as soon as possible. If you like a setting, you can put your childs name on the waiting list. If you are offered a place, please tell the other settings you have spoken to that you are no longer interested in a place there. How will I know if the early years setting I am visiting is right for my child? Before you choose an early years setting, make more than one visit to see the children and practitioners there. Do not be confused by the different names for a setting this can be called a childminder, preschool, playgroup, kindergarten, Montessori setting, nursery or school. They are all safe environments that provide learning through play, indoors and outdoors. Make sure the childminder is Ofsted registered. Things to notice: Did you feel welcome when you arrived? Will this setting make your child feel at home? When your child starts the setting, will you be able to stay until he or she is settled? When you ask the questions that are important to you, do you like the answers you are given? Watch the practitioners at work for a while. Do they speak to the children as individuals? Do they encourage the children to play? For more information call the Families Information Service on 020 8416 8416
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Learning in an early years setting

with a registered childminder, in a pre-school, a nursery, a Montessori setting or a reception class in school. When your child moves into an early years setting the learning journey will continue. He or she will learn by playing. The adults in the setting are called practitioners and one adult will be your childs key person. The key person will ask you about what your child likes, and about his or her favourite play activities. The key person will want to offer your child some things that are familiar and at the same time provide something new. Your child will then start to understand the connections between experiences at home and in the early years setting. The practitioners will regularly observe your childs play and learning. To help him or her make progress, they will plan the next steps in your childs learning journey through the Early Years Foundation Stage.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage? (The E EYFS)

The EYFS gives useful advice a information to help parents and and practitioners work togeth to support childrens care, her development and learning. A Unique Child every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. Children learn by imitating you and other people. Children mature at different rates and Like this! learn in their own individual ways. The EYFS is divided into four themes: A Uniqu Child ue Positive Relationships Enabling En nvironments Learning and Development Positive Relationships children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person. Children gain confidence, self-assurance and a sense of belonging. Children develop respect for themselves, for others and for peoples cultures, beliefs and views.

I dont know which way to go have you got the map? Then she tried it and said, I didnt like that one, thats not my favourite. Which one is your favourite?

Watch the bubble where is it going?

Its cold outside, what shall we wear?

Enabling Environments the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending childrens development and learning. Practitioners use everyday experiences and interests to plan for the next steps in your childs learning. Practitioners will work with you, sharing ideas about how you and they can support yourchilds learning. Can you see the teddy? I wonder what he will do now?

Learning and Development children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. All areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected. Children learn best through play, indoors and outdoors. Adults can support childrens learning by talking and joining in. The wind is blowing the leaves too hard I cant sweep them all away!

Im going to go faster this time!