Early years experiences and activities need to be relevant, if they are to provide a fertile foundation for learning and development. But how can the concept of the global dimension be relevant to the early years?
The table (right) shows the links between the eight key concepts, as set out in Developing the global dimension in the school curriculum and the Foundation Stage. It illustrates how the concepts can be related to the everyday lives of young learners.
The global dimension relates not only to the Foundation Stage curriculum, but also supports other Government initiatives, including Every Child Matters and Excellence and Enjoyment - A strategy for primary schools, which sets out the Government's vision to deliver higher standards through a broad and rich curriculum. The diagram opposite shows some of the relationships between these documents with suggested topics that cover global issues and can be used in conjunction with other planning tools.
DEVELOPING THE GLOBAL DIMENSION
* Developing the global dimension in the school curriculum
Global citizenship: Gaining the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to become informed active citizens
Conflict resolution: Understanding the nature of conflicts, their impact on development and why there is a need for their resolution and the promotion of harmony
Social justice: Understanding the importance of social justice as an element in both sustainable development and the improved welfare of all people
Values and perceptions: Developing a critical evaluation of representation of global issues and an appreciation of the effect these have on people's attitudes and values
Sustainable development: Understanding the need to maintain and improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for future generations
Interdependence: Understanding how people, places, economies and environments are all inextricably related, and that choices and events have repercussions on a global scale
Human rights: Knowing about human rights including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Diversity: Understanding and respecting differences and relating these to our common humanity
* Developing the global dimension in the early years setting
Global citizenship: Young learners understand the ways in which places are organised and how they can make choices and influence activities
Conflict resolution: Young learners develop skills to resolve disagreements and recognise the effect this has on others
Social justice: Young learners recognise fairness both for themselves and others and develop the concepts of right and wrong
Values and perceptions: Young learners have the opportunity to use materials that represent the wider world, develop the skills to share and discuss their own and other people's ideas
Sustainable development: Young learners recognise that there are limited resources and that these need to be shared
Interdependence: Young learners develop awareness of how different people relate to one another
Human rights: Young learners begin to recognise the difference between 'needs and wants', and begin to understand about rights and responsibilities
Diversity: Young learners recognise differences and similarities between themselves and others
