Ofsted report looks at catch-up learning for children born in lockdown

Ofsted has published the first in a series of reviews on early years education to help with its focus of helping children following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report draws on a range of published research to consider how early years practitioners deliver high-quality education for children from birth to four years old.

The report stresses the value of play and teaching, and the importance of developing communication skills. What matters most is that practitioners have considered what they want children to know and be able to do, before deciding how best to teach. Making sure children catch up after the pandemic is still a key challenge in the early years, so practitioners need to think carefully about what content to prioritise. However, the report does not prescribe how to teach a high-quality early years curriculum.

The report found that, high-quality early years curriculum and pedagogy considers what all children should learn. It prioritises communication and offers plenty of opportunity for disadvantaged children, or those who speak English as an additional language, to learn and practise speaking and listening.

Good practice also includes practitioners choosing what activities and experiences they are going to provide for children after deciding what it is that they want children to learn.

It also includes adults thinking carefully about what children already know and can do when deciding what to teach first, and for children with gaps in their knowledge, they get the additional teaching they need so that they can access the same curriculum as their peers.

A good early years curriculum also consider children’s interests when choosing activities and play is valued and used to teach many aspects of the curriculum.

Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said: "Every child deserves a good early education. Their first few years equip children with the building blocks they need to succeed in childhood and beyond.

"Many children in nurseries or childcare began life during the pandemic and have had to catch up with communication and social skills. Early years practitioners have worked hard to teach children things they’ve missed and to embed that knowledge through play. I hope our review helps them – and highlights the vital work that they do introducing children to education."