The Characteristics of Effective Learners

During their earliest years, children form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime. Children who receive the right sort of support and encouragement during these formative years will be creative and adventurous learners throughout their lives.  The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has identified three characteristics of effective teaching and learning.

1. Playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’

2. Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements

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

We have developed these into 10 ‘animal characters’ each with its own name and characteristic which the children can identify with, relate to and aspire to become.  In class, teachers will reward evidence of these characteristics and them in order to promote positive attitudes and behaviours.

This can be reinforced at home when children are completing homework or undertaking practical tasks that they are unfamiliar with by using the animal names and promoting their positive characteristics.

If you would like to find out more about our animal friends or about the characteristics of effective learners, please speak to one of the reception teachers or have a look at the displays in school.