An enabling learning environment

Explore the areas of learning that should be found in an enabling early years environment. Consider how these areas promote learning and development, and the role of the practitioner. Learn how to create a ‘room to learn’ using a planned approach and how to adapt your plans and extend learning, according to individual needs and wishes.

This course is appropriate for childcare practitioners working in a range of settings.

Learning outcomes

• You will learn that in a richly resourced environment, children will learn naturally from all that is around them
• You will learn the importance of providing children with opportunities to learn independently and interact with their peers with minimal adult intervention
• You will learn to consider the possibilities for creating a flow between the indoor and outdoor areas of the setting so that children can move freely between them

Advantages of this course

• The learning in this course reflects the fact that children are naturally curious and want to explore and learn
• The course covers how to plan a room for learning, how to designate responsibility to staff, how to link the areas for learning and planned activities to the Early Learning Goals, and how to ensure that the learning environment meets the needs of all children, including those with special needs
• In planning and creating an enabling learning environment, this course also looks at ways of keeping costs low
• Video examples of effective enabling environments based on jungles and space are included
• This course also looks at the importance of including the outdoors, as well as the indoors, in the learning environment; introducing the idea of Forest Schools
• Additional activities encourage you to reflect on your learning
• There is also suggested extended reading that gives both practical information and links to websites to expand knowledge