Children have a natural connection to the world around them. They develop deep and sometimes lifelong interests though their observations of nature, the weather, animals or technology. Their play is scientific in nature as they experiment with cause and effect and observe changes that take place in the natural environment. Trips to the local park where they might spot a weed in the paving slabs, a bug on a leaf, or have a conversation with a policeman, can spark rich learning opportunities. Through these interactions, children begin to make sense of their physical world and their community.
For education consultant Kathryn Solly, Understanding the World (UTW) underpins the whole EYFS. ‘Literacy, language, maths, physicality and personal, social and emotional development can all be accessed through children’s interests in the world around them. It’s motivational for children, and particularly important for children with additional needs, vulnerable children or those with English as a second language, who may struggle in other areas of learning, initially.’
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