Happy ever after

Following on from the success of our guides on maths, science and literacy in the Foundation Stage, Penny Tassoni looks at a learning goal that's harder to measure

Some nurseries have contacted Nursery World to request that the magazine publish parents' guides to all the areas of learning in the Foundation Stage. Staff say that they would like to make them into a set to give to parents. Why don't you follow suit?

Here I will look at personal, social and emotional development, which is the first area of learning within the curriculum guidance folder (parents' guides to maths, science and literacy appeared in Nursery World on 15 November 2001, 17 January 2002 and 21 February 2002). This is no coincidence, as it is increasingly recognised that children's early feelings about themselves and their ability to relate to others will affect not just their school performance but also their ability to form secure and stable relationships in later life. A closer look at all of the early learning goals in this area reveal that they are skills which adults need to be able to draw upon, especially the early learning goal to 'consider the consequences of their words and actions for themselves and others'.