Characteristics of Effective Learning

The Characteristics of Effective Learning

As outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, the Characteristics of Effective Learning describe behaviours children use in order to learn. To learn well, children must approach opportunities with curiosity, energy and enthusiasm. Effective learning must be meaningful to a child, so that they are able to use what they have learned and apply it in new situations. These abilities and attitudes of strong learners will support them to learn well and make good progress in all the Areas of Learning and Development.

The Characteristics of Learning/ways in which children engage with other people and their environment – Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

In order to promote these positive learning behaviours, we have three dinosaur class mascots...

TRYOSAURUS - Active Learning

• They are not easily distracted.
• They spend a long time concentrating.
• They show lots of interest in what they are doing and pay very close attention to the details.
• They enjoy achieving what they have set out to do. 
• They keep on trying and never give up (even when they find something tricky, they find another way!)

EXPLOROSAURUS - Playing and Exploring

• They love finding out and exploring.
• They like to act out experiences with others. 
• They have a 'can do' attitude.
• They take risks in their learning and when something doesn't work out, they try a different way. 
• They love a challenge!

THINKOSAURUS - Creating and Thinking Critically

• They have their own ideas.
• They find ways to solve problems.
• They make predictions.
• They test out their ideas.
• They think carefully about how they are going to approach an activity. 
• They think about how well their activity is going and change their way if something is not working. 

We recognise positive learning behaviours by pointing out how different children are displaying the Characteristics of Effective Learning and we encourage children to reflect on their own learning. All children display the Characteristics of Effective Learning every day but at the end of each day, we recognise and choose examples of children who were displaying positive learning behaviours and these children hold the mascot for story time.