18/11/2022
Understand strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics
3.1 - Explain a range of strategies for developing early literacy
There are a number of strategies that can be used in the EYFS to develop early literacy.
Settings can introduce a phonics programme, concentrating on phase one of phonics. Using
phase one of phonics, practitioners will be helping children develop their listening skills and
developing awareness of environmental and instrumental sounds.
Other strategies that support emergent literacy include activity plans that include
opportunities to model reading and writing. These could include scribing with fingers and
various tools, mark-making activities, hand gestures, sound games, rhymes, story sacks,
and sharing books. Using puppets as a communication tool is another option.
3.2 - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of using these strategies for developing
early literacy
Strengths and weaknesses of using mark-making activities to develop children’s literacy.
Strengths: Children may become engrossed in making marks and they might connect their
mark-making to the interests they currently have. They may give meaning to the marks they
have made.
Weaknesses: Not all children readily interact with mark-making. Lack of interest on the part
of children may prevent them from ever attempting to use the resources. Resources can be
depleted quickly and frequently need to be replenished. The physical ability to manipulate
the materials to make marks may be lacking in some of the children.
3.3 - Explain a range of strategies for developing early mathematics
There are a number of strategies that can be used in the EYFS to develop early
mathematics. Settings can have a dedicated maths area, where they can use maths
resources such as puzzles, an abacus or building blocks. However maths does not need to
be kept to just the maths area and there are always opportunities to incorporate learning
about numbers, shapes and problem solving. For example, learning about shapes and
numbers can be incorporated into lots of areas of learning. For example, when outside,
children can count how many jumps they’ve made on the trampoline. They can draw and
identify shapes using chalk. They can sing songs that include numbers.
3.4 - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of using these strategies for developing
early mathematics
Strengths and weaknesses of incorporating learning about shapes into other areas of
learning.
Strengths: When, for example, cutting up fruit at snack time, there is an opportunity to talk
about shapes with the children. This will provide extension for the task the children are
already doing. Children become more aware of what shapes look like.
Understand strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics
3.1 - Explain a range of strategies for developing early literacy
There are a number of strategies that can be used in the EYFS to develop early literacy.
Settings can introduce a phonics programme, concentrating on phase one of phonics. Using
phase one of phonics, practitioners will be helping children develop their listening skills and
developing awareness of environmental and instrumental sounds.
Other strategies that support emergent literacy include activity plans that include
opportunities to model reading and writing. These could include scribing with fingers and
various tools, mark-making activities, hand gestures, sound games, rhymes, story sacks,
and sharing books. Using puppets as a communication tool is another option.
3.2 - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of using these strategies for developing
early literacy
Strengths and weaknesses of using mark-making activities to develop children’s literacy.
Strengths: Children may become engrossed in making marks and they might connect their
mark-making to the interests they currently have. They may give meaning to the marks they
have made.
Weaknesses: Not all children readily interact with mark-making. Lack of interest on the part
of children may prevent them from ever attempting to use the resources. Resources can be
depleted quickly and frequently need to be replenished. The physical ability to manipulate
the materials to make marks may be lacking in some of the children.
3.3 - Explain a range of strategies for developing early mathematics
There are a number of strategies that can be used in the EYFS to develop early
mathematics. Settings can have a dedicated maths area, where they can use maths
resources such as puzzles, an abacus or building blocks. However maths does not need to
be kept to just the maths area and there are always opportunities to incorporate learning
about numbers, shapes and problem solving. For example, learning about shapes and
numbers can be incorporated into lots of areas of learning. For example, when outside,
children can count how many jumps they’ve made on the trampoline. They can draw and
identify shapes using chalk. They can sing songs that include numbers.
3.4 - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of using these strategies for developing
early mathematics
Strengths and weaknesses of incorporating learning about shapes into other areas of
learning.
Strengths: When, for example, cutting up fruit at snack time, there is an opportunity to talk
about shapes with the children. This will provide extension for the task the children are
already doing. Children become more aware of what shapes look like.
