Babies and young children do not develop in a fixed way. Their development is like a spider’s web with many strands, not a straight line.

Prime Areas of Learning in the EYFS make up a crucial part of early development. These are then followed by more specified areas of development that are more structured in their approach. Helping children to master the 'basics' by meeting the aims in the EYFS Prime Areas of Learning encourages long term skills. Supporting them in developing these skills during EYFS is a way to help them grasp the underpinning skills they need to exceed in specific learning areas in the future. This EYFS Early Learning Goals document outlines the new early learning goals that were released for September 2021. The document clearly shows each EYFS seven areas of learning, along with the Early Learning Goals for each aspect. Our teacher-made Early Learning Goals document details each of the ELGs in their amended form for Early Years practitioners to use from 2021. The EYFS is made up of seven different Areas of Learning. Each of these falls in to either the 'Prime' or 'Specific' areas of learning. The EYFS Development Matters Framework initially explores the three Prime Areas and then follows with the four Specific areas of EYFS. Encourage babies’ exploration of the world around them. Suggestions: investigating the feel of their key person’s hair or reaching for a blanket in their cot.Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood. It starts with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, coordination and positional awareness. Children explore and develop through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults. Opportunities to play and explore freely, indoors and outside, are fun. They also help babies, toddlers and young children to develop their self-regulation as they enjoy hands-on learning and sometimes talk about what they are doing.

For anyone wishing to compare the old ELGs to the updated versions, we have a separate poster for doing so, and a fantastic blog that explores the changes in-depth here. The resource, outlining the seven areas of learning, can be used to: Is the child using pronouns (‘me’, ‘him’, ‘she’), and using plurals and prepositions (‘in’, ‘on’, ‘under’) – these may not always be used correctly to start with. Toddlers and young children sometimes hesitate and repeat sounds and words when thinking about what to say. Through adult modelling and guidance, they will learn how to look after their bodies. This includes healthy eating and managing personal needs independently. Through supported interaction with other children, they learn how to make good friendships, co-operate and resolve conflicts peacefully. Adult input ensures that children can use conflicts as teaching moments, taking away lessons for life.We have republished Development Matters. While it’s not compulsory, we recommend that you use it with the new statutory framework. The change Understanding the World: This is broken down into 3 areas: ‘Past and Present’, ‘People, Culture, and Communities,’ and ‘The Natural World’. Within the early learning goals, the 7 areas of learning and development are broken down further into different aspects. It is these aspects that form the 17 different early learning goals that are reported in the EYFSP. The Prime Areas: Communication and Language

Children are powerful learners. Every child can make progress in their learning, with the right help.

The posters clearly present the new Early Learning Goals for EYFS that are statutory from September 2021. More Areas of Learning resources to advise and inform you:

Communication and Language: This includes categories of, ‘Listening, Attention and Understanding’ and ‘Speaking’. guide their own thinking and actions by referring to visual aids or by talking to themselves while playing, for example, a child doing a jigsaw might whisper under their breath: “Where does that one go? – I need to find the big horse next.” Around 18 months, is the toddler listening and responding to a simple instruction like: “Adam, put on your shoes?”

Other useful documents exploring the seven areas of learning

The Development Matters non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage can help inform your approach to curriculum, putting the educational programmes into practice. Changes to safeguarding and welfare The changes People, Culture, and Communities - In this area children will broaden their understanding of different people including their cultures, religious beliefs, and their individual contributions to society. There are the 3 prime areas of learning, and then 4 others, too. These are then divided up into 17 different categories. However, the seven areas of learning and aspects are as follows: