1. Unit 8 Professional Practice Portfolio 1
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2. LO8 Understand enabling play environments.
AC 8.2 Describe play provision to meet the areas of learning and development across the current framework.
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3. LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
What was your favourite subject at school?
Consider:
English
Maths
Science
Languages
Humanities
Arts
Sport
Why was this one your favourite?
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4. Areas of learning and development
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Areas of learning and development
When we plan for a play opportunity to take place we need to think about the requirements of the EYFS.
Each activity that we carry out as practitioners will cover a range of areas of learning and development.
Some activities and experiences will focus on one area of learning and development.
Other activities and experiences will cover two or more areas.
Sometimes an area of learning and development will unexpectedly be covered by an activity or experience.
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5. Areas of learning and development
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Areas of learning and development
Prime areas:
Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development.
Specific areas:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design.
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6. The last play opportunity that I provided was...
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
Think about the last activity that you carried out in placement, then complete the questions below.
The last play opportunity that I provided was...
The aim of this activity was to...
The children were able to develop their...
Were the children able to develop any other skills that were not in the original aim of the activity?
Teacher notes:
Learners could be given time to compare answers.
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7. Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
When practitioners plan activities and experiences they will be guided by many things, these will include:
Age and stage of the children
Individual needs and abilities
Time and resources available
Interests, topics, seasons and festivals
The current framework requirements.
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8. Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
When meeting the areas of learning and development across the current framework practitioners will look at:
The requirements for each area
The early learning goals.
Practitioners will use these to plan for and assess a child’s learning and development according to their age and stage of development.
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9. LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
You have been asked to plan an activity for a small group of 3–4 year olds, and you need to cover the area of expressive arts and design.
Consider:
The aim of the activity
The age and stage of the children
The expected outcomes
Resources and the role of the adult.
Teacher notes:
Learners can work together to plan one activity, but if there is time, they could plan two very different activities.
This work will be used in the Group activity.
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10. Share your plans from the Pairs activity and discuss:
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
Share your plans from the Pairs activity and discuss:
The range of activities
The effectiveness of each activity in meeting the area of expressive arts and design
Additional areas of learning and development covered by the activity.
Teacher notes:
Once learners have shared their plans, they should be encouraged to consider how each activity can cover other areas, such as communication and language, or mathematics.
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11. Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Play provision to meet the areas of learning and development
Settings will ensure that all areas of learning and development are covered on a daily basis.
Some settings will have specific areas that are dedicated to one or more area of learning and development.
Some settings will plan daily activities that will cover each area of learning and development.
It is a requirement of the EYFS that children have opportunities to explore and develop across all areas of learning and development.
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12. LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
Create a chart to show how your settings cover all of the areas of learning and development. For example:
COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
PERSONAL, SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEV
LITERACY
MATHEMATICS
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD
EXPRESSIVE ARTS & DESIGN
Outdoor climbing frame
Circle time
Book corner
Threading activity
Clay table
Snack time
Teacher notes:
This activity can include areas of the setting i.e. the outdoor area and specific activities i.e. painting
Learners will need large paper and pens and should create one chart for the group
Work will be shared in the classroom discussion activity
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13. Share your discussions from the Group activity. Consider:
LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
Share your discussions from the Group activity.
Consider:
Similarities in provision
Differences in provision
Are all areas of learning and development covered equally?
Is there one idea you would like to take back to your setting?
Teacher notes:
One large chart or list can be compiled from the group ideas.
This activity is designed to show the learners that the areas of learning and development are all around them.
It also encourages the sharing of good practice.
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14. LO8 Understand enabling play environments [AC 8.2]
Time: 15 mins
Do you feel that the play provision in your setting meets all of the areas of learning and development equally? How would you improve the provision for one area?
Consider:
Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design.
Teacher notes:
Learners can reflect on all of the discussions they have had in this session.
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15. In this lesson we have learnt that:
Settings will plan to meet all of the areas of learning and development.
Practitioners will plan specific activities and experiences to ensure that children have the opportunity to develop their skills in each area.
All areas of learning and development will be covered equally.
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16. Name all 7 areas of learning and development.
Split them in to prime and specific areas.
Can you think of an activity or experience that could cover four or more of the areas of development?
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