This Characteristics of Effective Learning document provides a clear and practical breakdown of how children demonstrate learning behaviours across the EYFS.

It unpacks the three key areas—Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically—through child-friendly “I can” style statements. These statements make it easy to identify, support and assess how children engage with their learning in continuous provision and adult-led activities.

The document supports practitioners in recognising how children explore, stay motivated, develop resilience, generate ideas and think critically. It also highlights how children use prior experiences, problem-solve, and adapt their thinking, helping to build a deeper understanding of how learning happens—not just what is learned.

It comes in an editable word format.

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