7 Areas of Development
What Are The 7 Areas Of Learning?
So, what are the 7 areas of learning in EYFS? Within the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage, there are 7 areas of learning and development.
All of the areas are important as they are all interconnected. These 7 areas are used by early years settings to shape their education programmes and to determine what children should learn and how children’s learning and development will be supported through each of these 7 areas.
The 7 areas are split into two categories: the prime areas and the specific areas
The Prime Areas
The prime areas lay the foundations upon which all further learning can develop. The prime areas are also extremely important for ‘igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving’, as stated in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage.
The three prime areas are:
Communication and Language
There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for communication and language:
- Listening, Attention and Understanding
- Speaking
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for personal, social and emotional
development:
- Self-Regulation
- Managing Self
- Building Relationships
Physical Development
There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for physical development:
- Gross Motor Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
The Specific Areas
Early years settings must also support children’s learning and development in the specific areas. The four specific areas are intended to also strengthen learning and development within the prime areas, hence why the 7 areas are seen as being interconnected. The four specific areas are:
Literacy
There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for literacy:
- Compression
- Word Reading
- Writing
Mathematics
There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for mathematics:
- Number
- Numerical Patterns
Understanding the World
There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for understanding the world:
- Past and Present
- People, Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
Expressive Arts and Design
There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for expressive arts and design:
- Creating with Materials
- Being Imaginative and Expressive
Within the early learning goals, the 7 areas of learning and development are broken down further into
different aspects. It is these aspects that form the 17 different early learning goals that are reported in the
EYFSP.
Although Development Matters – Non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage
(publishing.service.gov.uk) is not a statutory document, it can be a very useful tool for children’s learning and
development because it gives examples of how practitioners can support in each of the 7 EYFS areas.