What do pre-schoolers need to know?



If I'm going to develop an educational series, it's important to know what my target audience are expected to be learning, so that my series can supplement their education.

The National Curriculum doesn't kick in until Year 1, when children are 5 - 6 years old. However, since 2014, there has been a similar framework for children in nursery, pre-school and reception, called the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The document states that it "sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

In summary, a child is expected to learn the following things in order to be ready for Key Stage 1:-

Prime area 1: Communication and language
  • Listen attentively to what others say and respond appropriately.
  • Listen attentively to a story, anticipate key events, and respond with relevant comments and questions.
  • Follow multi-stage instructions.
  • Answer "how" and "why" questions about a story or event.
  • Develop a narrative or explanation by connecting events, using the correct tenses.

Prime area 2: Physical development
  • Show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements, including holding a pencil.
  • Talk about ways to keep healthy and safe, including exercise and healthy diet.
  • Manage basic hygeine and personal needs, such as dressing and going to the toilet.

Prime area 3: Personal, social and emotional development
  • Be confident to try new activities, and express why they like some activities more than others.
  • Be confident to speak about their ideas to familiar people, and to say when they do or don't need help.
  • Talk about their own feelings and behaviour, and those of other people.
  • Be aware of the consequences of behaviour, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable.
  • Understand and follow rules.
  • Play co-operatively, taking turns and taking account of other children's ideas.

Specific area 1: Literacy
  • Read and understand simple sentences.
  • Use phonics to read regular words and some common irregular spellings.
  • Write simple sentences with at least some correct spellings.
  • Use phonics to write regular words and some common irregular spellings.

Specific area 2: Mathematics
  • Count from 1 to 20.
  • When given a number between 1 and 20, say which number is one more / one less than it.
  • Use counting forwards and backwards to add and subtract two single-digit numbers.
  • Use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, distance, time and money.
  • Recognize and create simple patterns.
  • Explore the characteristics of everday objects and shapes.

Specific area 3: Understanding the world
  • Talk about past and present events, in their own life or in the life of family members.
  • Be aware that people have different likes and dislikes.
  • Be aware of similarities and differences between themselves and other people.
  • Be aware of similarities and differences between two places / objects / materials / living things.
  • Talk about features of their immediate environments, and how other environments might be different.
  • Make observations about plants and animals.
  • Talk about changes (for example in weather or seasons).
  • Recognize that a range of technology is used in homes and schools.
  • Be able to select and use technology for particular purposes.

Specific area 4: Expressive arts and design
  • Sing songs, make music with simple instruments, and dance.
  • Safely use a variety of materials and tools to experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • Think about the uses and purposes of different materials.
  • Express their own ideas through art, music, dance, role-play and storytelling.


DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, 2017. "Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage: Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five" [online]. Available from www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2017/03/EYFS_STATUTORY_FRAMEWORK_2017.pdf [Accessed 9 November 2017]

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