Session 3

• Biology
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Performance Outcome 1 

Support and promote children's play, development and early education. 

[e-mail] 

T - Level in Education & Early Years 

ZE30801 

Session 3

Learning objectives 

By the end of the session, all learners will:

Re-explore the normative stages of physical development & Personal, social and emotional development for children aged 0 - 5 years. (K1.1)

Be able to understand and explain philosophical approaches to play provisions in Early Years, to include: 

- Revisiting Maria Montessori 

- Highscope: active learning in the natural environment. 

- Margaret McMillian - Outdoor play for health and wellbeing

Starter activity 

As a group, we are going to recall key information about Maria Montessori and her theoretical perspective in early years. 

Scan the QR code and add your words 

Maria Montessori (Recall) 

Maria Montessori's approach to early education is known as the 'montessori method'

• Child centered learning in a prepared environment that initiates curiosity and self paced learning.
• An environment should prepare and create a child size environment. 
• Promote mixed age ranges, often Montessori have a range of ages in their provision.  
  
• The teacher is a guide (supporting guided participation & scaffolding). 
• Respect the child as an individual. 
• Freedom in the classroom, removing structured learning. 

Physical Development & PSED development

Last academic year for Element 7 you created timelines for physical development and PSED. 

You will need those timelines for the following task . 

You will now be split in to 4 groups. On google classroom there are 4 padlet links. 

You will click your allocated padlet link and spend time together answering the following questions: 

- What are the normative stages of development for your chosen topic?

- what activities support the normative stages of development for your age allocated age range?

What range of theories support your allocated age and area of development?

- In text references are encouraged

Margaret McMillan - Outdoor play for health and well being 

Margaret McMillan was known as part of the McMillan sisters 

with her sister Rachel. Margaret was very profound in her approach, 

although she was a politician she wrote books about early childhood education.

The McMillan sisters were known to shape early education with a holistic approach to create 'open air nurseries' that emphasised outdoor learning and play.

It pioneered a child-centered curriculum focused on individual needs and interests

Integrated education with health care and nutrition support

Influenced key early years policies and practices still used today

Margaret McMillan - Outdoor play for health and well being 

The McMillan sisters shaped future theoretical perspectives, such as: forest schools. 

The main intention of the McMillan sisters was to promote the outdoor environment to enhance physical health and wellbeing. 

The statistics and foundations of their theory are heavily still promoted at present in Early years, they provided a very valuable insight to outdoor play and the correct approaches that should be used. 

Maria Montessori was of the influences on their work.

Margaret McMillan - Outdoor play for health and well being 

Ground breaking impact on Early Years!! 

1. Open air nurseries 

2. Supporting practices in Early Years 

3. Child - centered curriculum 

4. Health and social care. 

Now that we have learnt about McMillan sisters, how is this approach seen in your EY settings?

High scope - active learning in the natural environment. 

The High Scope approach promotes 'active learning' igniting children's interests in learning from the environment around them. 

It is important to remember high scope is an approach that informs teaching practices it is not a theory !!! 

High scope was predominantly considered for preschool age however has been generalised for all environments. 

Why is active learning so important in Early education?

High scope - active learning in the natural environment. 

There are 5 fundamental 'ingredients' to the HighScope approach. 

1. Materials - They need to reflect day to day life, including children's home life, religion, beliefs and key interests

2. Manipulation - Practitioners and educators are encouraged to create an environment that natural provokes curiosity. Encourages children to examine, problem solve and actively learn.

3. Choice - The environment and approach in early education should encourage children to make active choices. 

4. Child language and thought - It is advised to consider different forms of non verbal and verbal communications. The intention is to support children to modify their thought processes. 

5. Adult scaffolding is advised to promote higher order thinking and helping children advance to next stage of development. 

What are the seen benefits of the highscope approach and why?

2 part assessment task 

Part 2 

Head in your groups and begin bringing together your project 1. 

Heads Up

Next week 2 of my year 2 students are coming to support you with this.