This module will provide the opportunity to build upon your existing knowledge and understanding of literacy and numeracy in the Early Years. This module will provide knowledge and skills which are essential to being an effective practitioner within early years education. Drawing on underpinning theory of observation, assessment and child development, the module will also cover curricula and strategies used within early childcare settings and schools, providing you with a rich and varied range of learning and teaching activities in relation to literacy and numeracy which you will be able to use within your own role. The sessions will be progressive and work towards using your developing knowledge, skills and expertise to create a relevant numeracy or literacy activity that will form the assessment task for this module.

1) The design of an appropriate resource to support young children’s literacy OR Numeracy (60%)
Assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 4

2) 10 minute presentation of the designed activity displaying knowledge and understanding of the child/ children’s current stage of development, using relevant curriculum. Critical evaluation of how the learning environment supported the child/ children’s learning and critical analysis of the strategies used whilst carrying out the designed activity will take place. Leading to a final summary of the progress the child made during the activity
Assesses Learning Outcomes 1,2,3, 4

The teaching, learning and assessment strategy has been carefully developed for this module. This module will provide knowledge and skills which are essential to being an effective practitioner within early years education. It recognises you bring with you a wealth of practical experience and detailed knowledge of supporting young children’s literacy and numeracy to share with others, and this vast pool of practical experience will be used to promote discussion and debate, which will build upon existing knowledge to encourage reflection and critical thought of early literacy and numeracy development.
A distanced learning approach will provide virtual learning with some face to face opportunities
University sessions will draw upon your experience and help you to interpret that experience in the light of current thinking on teaching, learning, assessment and schooling in relation to literacy and numeracy. You will be an active participant in your learning and engage with synchronous/ asynchronous sessions and will be encouraged to be a critical thinker and apply your learning in an academic and professional context. You will also be asked to use the ideas explored in the sessions in planning your future work. Some sessions require prior reading and independent research to inform the sessions and you will be asked to collaborate with others in preparing and presenting your work.
Throughout the module there will be formative assessments which do not count to your final mark, but which provide you with information on how you are performing.
In this module, formative assessment is through tutorial support and professional discussions relating to how you plan for and assess children’s numeracy and literacy acquisition.

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of stages of development and progression in children’s early mathematical and early literacy acquisition
Application
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. Critically analyse early years teaching and learning strategies and evaluate their use in supporting children’s learning in literacy and numeracy
Analysis
Learning
Communication

3. Critically evaluate elements of the learning environment which support the development of early literacy and early numeracy.
Analysis
Knowledge and Understanding

4. Demonstrate detailed knowledge, understanding and application of current policy and curriculum and how these have been informed by theoretical perspectives
Knowledge and Understanding
Application
Learning

Unless otherwise stated, all books are available online through Staffordshire University library website when logged in using your university username and password. If you have difficulty accessing these, please contact the University library. There is also an online reading list for each module on this course. To access this, go to http://staffs.rebuslist.com/ and then type in the module code in the search box. Do not worry if this list seems excessively long. You may wish to focus on texts which are most relevant to your education sector. This module covers a wide range of texts and you may find that you only need to read short sections of the texts listed (or from other texts that you may find in libraries or journals). Your tutor will also advise you on the relevant texts and sections of texts to read. Remember that it is important to show you have considered views from a wide range of sources. When referring to texts in your assignment, always use https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/refzone for guidance. There are many versions of Harvard referencing systems in use around the world, but for Staffordshire University, Refzone Harvard system is the only correct method to use.

Brodie, K (2013) Observation, Assessment and Planning in the Early Years – Bringing It All Together. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Education

Desailly, J. (2015) Creativity in the Primary Classroom. London: Sage

DfE (2015) SEND Code of Practice: 0 – 25 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25

DfE (2021) Statutory framework for the early years foundation. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf


Hallett, E (2016) Early Years Practice for Educators and Teachers. Londin:Sage

Palaiologou,I (Ed)(2016) The Early Years Foundation Stage. Theory and Practice. London: Sage

How do we support young children effectively in literacy and numeracy ?
(Optional module to gain BA (Hons) Education (Early Years) degree)

This module will include an introduction to early mathematical and early literacy acquisition with links to theoretical perspectives. This will cover curricula and strategies used within early childcare settings and schools. Strategies and approaches to literacy and numeracy will also be explained and applied. A series of innovative teaching sessions will take place across both literacy and numeracy, these will include planning active numeracy with young children, planning active literacy with young children, play based literacy and numeracy, developing and planning the learning environment to enhance literacy and numeracy and promoting literacy and numeracy in outdoor learning.

This module will gain you 20 credits at level 6 towards the full 240 credits for the BA (Hons) Education (Early Years) degree