The ‘prime’ areas lay the foundation for all later learning. Therefore, it is vital that we prioritise supporting children’s development in these areas.

Communication and Language

These are fundamental skills which, if nurtured well in the early years, can set all children up to be successful learners. By regularly having reciprocal conversations with your child, reading with them every day and commenting on the world around you, you will be supporting their communication and language development. 

Early Learning Goal: Listening, Attention and Understanding

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Listen attentively and respond to what they hear with relevant questions, comments and actions when being read to and during whole class discussions and small group interactions;
• Make comments about what they have heard and ask questions to clarify their understanding;
• Hold conversation when engaged in back-and-forth exchanges with their teacher and peers.

Early Learning Goal: Speaking

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Participate in small group, class and one-to-one discussions, offering their own ideas, using recently introduced vocabulary;
• Offer explanations for why things might happen, making use of recently introduced vocabulary from stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems when appropriate;
• Express their ideas and feelings about their experiences using full sentences, including use of past, present and future tenses and making use of conjunctions, with modelling and support from their teacher.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

In their early years, children need lots of opportunities to develop their social skills, such as building relationships, taking turns, managing their own feelings and adapting to new situations. Independence is also really important for future learning, so encouraging your child to use the toilet, dress and eat by themselves has great benefits. By providing these types of opportunities, you will support your child’s personal, social and emotional development.

Early Learning Goal: Self Regulation

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Show an understanding of their own feelings and those of others, and begin to regulate their behaviour accordingly;
• Set and work towards simple goals, being able to wait for what they want and control their immediate impulses when appropriate;
• Give focused attention to what the teacher says, responding appropriately even when engaged in activity, and show an ability to follow instructions involving several ideas and actions.

Early Learning Goal: Managing Self

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Be confident to try new activities and show independence, resilience and perseverance in the face of challenge;
• Explain the reasons for rules, know right from wrong and try to behave accordingly;
• Manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs, including dressing, going to the toilet and understanding the importance of healthy food choices.

Early Learning Goal: Building Relationships

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Work and play co-operatively and take turns with others;
• Form positive attachments to adults and friendships with peers;
• Show sensitivity to their own and to others' needs.

Physical Development

Children also need to develop certain physical skills in their early years, to ensure they are successful learners in later life. They need a wide range of opportunities to practise their gross motor (large movement) and fine motor (small movement) skills, such as by throwing and catching, climbing, using a knife and fork or snipping with scissors. By providing these opportunities, you will support the development of their physical skills.

Early Learning Goal: Gross Motor Skills

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and others:
• Demonstrate strength, balance and co-ordination when playing;
• Move energetically, such as running, jumping, dancing, hopping, skipping and climbing.

Early Learning Goal: Fine Motor Skills

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Hold a pencil effectively in preparation for fluent writing – using the tripod grip in almost all cases;
• Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paint brushes and cutlery;
• Begin to show accuracy and care when drawing.