Videos

The Characteristics of Effective Learning

This video, created by Siren Films with the Birth to 5 Matters team, gives an insight into how children might demonstrate the Characteristics of Effective Learning through their play and learning.

Supporting everyday practice series

1. Using the Characteristics of Effective Learning to support children’s learning

In this video Nancy Stewart outlines the importance of the Characteristics of Effective Learning and how you can use them to support and develop children’s learning.

This video can be used as part of a staff meeting to promote reflective discussion about your provision.

2. An overview of the changes to the EYFS

Chris Pascal gives an overview of the changes to the EYFS which will be statutory from September 2021. She outlines what the changes might mean for your setting and talks about the two non-statutory options Development Matters 2021 and Birth to 5 Matters. Chris leaves you with some things to think about as a team which can be used as discussion starters within a staff meeting.

Please feel free to use the video to support your staff team to feel confident to deliver the revised EYFS. 

3. The role of observation, assessment, and planning in the revised EYFS

The changes to the statutory EYFS alongside the move to reduce the amount of paperwork has caused some concern and confusion about the ongoing role of observation, assessment, and planning. Here is the next video in our series to support you to use the Birth to 5 Matters guidance in your everyday practice. Di Chilvers, who led the working group on Observation, Assessment and Planning, talks about this vital element in Early Years practice. Di uses her expertise to de-mystify the subject and explains practical ways of working which will promote ongoing high-quality practice. Again, this video can be used as part of a staff meeting or a training session.

4. Ranges and overlapping ovals: young children’s development and progress as a continuum

Following on from her previous video about observation, assessment, and planning, in this film Di Chilvers explains how to use the Ranges when making summative assessments. She talks about viewing children’s learning and development as a continuum and encourages practitioners to feel confident in their own skills which inform these assessments. This is also an excellent resource for whole staff meetings as well as individual CPD.

5. A User’s Guide to Birth to 5 Matters

Birth to 5 Matters is packed full of supportive guidance which can help practitioners deliver high quality early education in any setting. Donna Gaywood, project coordinator of Birth to 5 Matters, has made a short film which is a User’s Guide – outlining the variety of ways Birth to 5 Matters can be used. She addresses some of the myths which have developed and thinks about practical ways to use the non-statutory guidance.

6. How childminders can use Birth to 5 Matters

In this video our project co-ordinator talks with Sarah Neville about how childminders particularly can use Birth to 5 Matters in practice. Sarah asks Donna all the practical questions childminders have raised with her. They talk about making assessments, supporting children’s learning from day one, what to do if a child is not necessarily on track and much more. 

7. Supporting children with EAL – Dr Rose Drury

In this video Dr Rose Drury talks with Donna Gaywood about supporting children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Rose outlines practical ways to work with bilingual children and the richness multi language speakers can bring to settings.

8. Birth to 5 Matters – the Curriculum Discussion

In this video Shaddai Tembo, Sally Cave and Dr Mine Conkbayir join our project coordinator Donna Gaywood, to take on the big topic of curriculum. They discuss what is curriculum, how can we develop it and try to de-mystify what this might look like in practice. This is a very helpful resource to start conversations about curriculum and educational programmes with established staff teams, newly qualified practitioners, or trainee early years practitioners/teachers.

9. Birth to 5 Matters – Maths – Dr Helen Williams and Dr Andrea Lancaster

In this video two members of the Birth to 5 Mathmatical Development working group, Dr Helen Williams and Dr Andrea Lancaster, talk about how to use the Maths section in the guidance. This is a very practical supportive resource for early years practitioners who might feel worried about Maths or for those who want to develop their practice further.

Birth to 5 Matters Launch

Watch the launch of the Birth to 5 Matters guidance.

Childcare.co.uk video interview with Nancy Stewart