As well as considering what opportunities we are providing for children we also observe the skills and qualities that children need to support them to become successful learners throughout life. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance which looks at the overall development of the children. There are three characteristics of effective learning which are:

• Playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things and ‘have a go’

• Active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulty, and enjoy achievements

• Creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas and develop strategies for doing things.

At Henry Allen we believe that like adults, children learn best when they are self-motivated and interested. For young children, play is their work.