Creating an environment and use of space
Young children learn best when they have scope for active involvement in a wide range of learning experiences.
The learning environment - both indoors and outdoors- needs to provide challenge and opportunity to explore exciting learning possibilities. All early years settings need to provide flexible and stimulating environments to fully engage children in their learning. At all stages this requires activities, space and resources to be well planned and organised.
Use of space
The spaces available in pre-school and primary school settings differ in size and shape, and also in the resources and equipment they contain, numbers of children and numbers of staff.
However, there are key features which all children should have the opportunity to experience.
Space should be arranged to provide opportunities for children to learn through social, sensory, creative, constructive and dramatic activities. Children’s responses to these different contexts will depend upon their interests and stage of development. With the active learning approach, space will be needed for children to work alone, for children to work together in pairs or groups and for them to rest and be quiet.
In some settings the availability of space will be a challenge. However, in all circumstances it should be possible to review regularly how it is being used, to provide variety and breadth of opportunity. The use of space should be flexible with children involved in planning so that contexts for learning are adapted to meet their changing needs and interests. It may be desirable, for example, to remove some tables and use those that are in the room for a variety of purposes.