Professor Tina Bruce first outlined the 10 Principles of Early Childhood in her book Early Childhood Education published in 1987. Whenever I reflect on good practice in Early Years Classrooms I relate it to these principles:
The best way to prepare children for their adult life is to
give them what they need as children.
Children are whole people who have feelings, ideas and
relationships with others, and who need to be physically, mentally, morally and
spiritually healthy.
Subjects such as mathematics and art cannot be separated;
young children learn in an integrated way and not in neat, tidy compartments.
Children learn best when they are given appropriate
responsibility, allowed to make errors, decisions and choices, and respected as
autonomous learners.
Self-discipline is emphasised. Indeed, this is the only kind
of discipline worth having. Reward systems are very short-term and do not work
in the long-term. Children need their efforts to be valued.
There are times when children are especially able to learn
particular things.
What children can do (rather that what they cannot do) is
the starting point of a child’s education.
Imagination, creativity and all kinds of symbolic behaviour
(reading, writing, drawing, dancing, music, mathematical numbers, algebra, role
play and talking) develop and emerge when conditions are favourable.
Relationships with other people (both adults and children)
are of central importance in a child’s life.
Quality education is about three things: the child, the
context in which learning takes place, and the knowledge and understanding
which the child develops and learns.
Tina Bruce, Early Childhood Education
This morning I spent some time in the Reception Classes. There was some fabulous work going on. Every child was purposefully engaged in a range of balanced activities. There was a great blend of focused work, inquiry, play and self-directed activities. It is wonderful to see the principles listed above come alive in the classroom. This does not happen by accident! Many thanks to the teachers and teaching assistants in the Reception Team.
Some pictures taken in the Reception Class this morning.
Simon McCloskey
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