Foundation Curriculum
Child led learning: education done with children, not to them.
Most learning in Foundation Stage takes place through child led play and experience. Children make decisions and take ownership of their learning through their interests, ideas and past experiences. Planning in the Moment allows children to have this opportunity and allows the adults in the setting to spend more quality time knowing the children as unique and individual learners.
Child A is playing outdoors with the large wooden construction blocks. Child A decides to take a trip ‘to Mars’. Other peers join and Child A involves their peers in their ideas and play. Construction continues and Child A shares their past knowledge of planets. Part of planning in the moment is for the adult, not to interfere, but to find a teachable moment to extend the learning. The adult wonders if Child A would like to find out more about Mars. Child A locates, with the help of the Adult a book and takes this back to their construction. Using their prior mathematical knowledge, Child A uses the index and locates the page number for Mars. Child A tells others Mars is ‘a hot planet’ after noticing the image of Mars. A further teachable moment takes place as the Adult reads facts from the non-fiction book. Child A reiterates these facts to peers that Mars is actually ‘a cold planet’. Play further continues as the children travel to Mars, a place the adults in the setting could never have pre-planned.
Children are trusted to make decisions and are encouraged to use their voices to express their opinions, feelings and knowledge. They become stewards of their own learning experience through this nurturing environment.