Enabling Environments in the Early Years

1. Enabling Environments in the Early Years

2. Session 1 What is an enabling environment?

3. What is an enabling environment? • An enabling environment is a physical indoor and outdoor environment which provides: • Space • High quality resources • Displays • Accessibility • Stability • It is also an emotional environment providing warmth and acknowledgement of each child as unique. • A truly enabling environment ought to support children’s learning across the 6 areas of learning and ensure the that each child is “ a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured” (EYFS (2007), Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, DCSF, page 5).

4. Why is the environment so important? • The environment plays a key role in supporting and developing a child’s learning and development. Discuss with your group what you think the main features of an enabling environment will include/provide/support.

5. An enabling environment will: • Provide a child with stimulation and challenge. • Pick up on a child’s interests and enable them to explore and experiment. • Be flexible to allow for quiet, reflective and focussed learning, maybe in a comfortable book corner, as well as more boisterous and physical play. • Support children’s learning across all 6 aspects of learning, allowing them to practise their skills and develop new ones. • Help children to learn about rules and how to communicate with others. • Encourage children’s creativity and imagination and permit them to take risks and make mistakes. • Promote equality and support children to develop a greater understanding of others’ needs, cultures, religions and backgrounds. • Provide safety and emotional support. • Encourage independence and help children to develop a positive attitude towards learning. • (Enabling environments in the Early Years (2011), Liz Hodgman)

6. Every child matters • Providing an enabling environment also links to the five Every Child Matters outcomes. • Stay Safe-a safe and secure place to play and learn. • Be Healthy-the support to develop good personal hygiene practices. • Enjoy and Achieve-provide a wide range of activities and resources that are stimulating and encourage participation. • Make a positive contribution-encourage children and parents to make contributions. • Achieve Economic Well Being-offer challenges to develop skills to support them in later learning and eventually employment.

7. The Four principles • The EYFS Framework values the environment and this is seen by it’s four principle cards. • A Unique Child • Positive Relationships • Enabling Environments • Learning and Development • Look at the cards and discuss how the other 3 principles of the EYFS link to the enabling environment.

8. Summary-why the environment is important in supporting children’s learning • An enabling environment will provide space, high quality resources, displays, accessibility and stability for the children. • The environment supports children’s learning and development across all seven areas of learning, the five Every Child Matters Outcomes. • The Enabling Environment includes the indoor and outdoor spaces and the emotional environment. • The environment is one of the four key principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Enabling Environments.