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Learning and development 

Development matters 

"Children learn and develop more from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives. If children are at risk of falling behind the majority, the best time to help them to catch up and keep up is in the early years. Every child can make progress, if they are given the right support. When we give every child the best start in their early years, we give them what they need today. We also set them up with every chance of success tomorrow"   

(DfE, 2021)

Learning and development: Image

Early Years Foundation Stage

"The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life"

(DfE, 2021)

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum and practice is shaped by the requirements of the educational programmes in the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is designed to ensure all children are given opportunity to learn and develop at their own pace.

At Busy Bees we understand that children are powerful learners and with the right help every child will make progress.

We use different play-based approaches to help each child develop new skills and knowledge. The learning environment is organised to provide high quality play experiences while encouraging children to develop a positive sense of who they are, to learn to be part of a community and to be string and independent little people.

Careful observation and assessment of individual children allows us to notice their interests which guides and shapes what we want the children to learn and how we will help them. 


At Busy Bees we help children become powerful learners by adopting the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning:

playing and exploring - I investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.

active learning – I concentrate and keep on trying even when I encounter difficulties. I enjoy achieving.

creating and thinking critically – I am learning to develop my own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

There are seven areas of learning and development which shape educational programmes in early years settings.

All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

The three prime areas are crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

  • Communication and Language

  • Personal Social and Emotional Development

  • Physical Development


The three prime areas are strengthened and applied through the four specific areas.

  • Literacy

  • Mathematics

  • Understanding the World

  • Expressive Arts and Design

Kids Drawing
Learning and development: Programs
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