Evidence-Informed Practice
Providers & members
Early Years focuses on evidence-based practice throughout the early childhood care and education sector. We draw on research and academic studies to develop innovative, quality programmes that support services across the sector.
Key facts
- Programmes
- Eager and Able to Learn, HighScope, Respecting Diversity
- Ages
- Birth to 6 years
- For
- Early years settings and practitioners
- Evidence
- Research-based, with independent evaluations by Queen’s University Belfast
Eager and Able to Learn
Developed by Early Years, Eager and Able to Learn is a play-based programme for children aged two to three. It combines movement and play activities in early years settings with opportunities for parents and carers to explore play with their children at home.
Eager and Able to Learn places particular emphasis on physical movement, with developmental movement and play activities for practitioners to use. Its home-based element encourages parents to take part in their child’s learning through shared play.
HighScope
HighScope is a research-based approach to early education built on active participatory learning. It recognises children as capable learners who construct knowledge through hands-on experiences, interactions with people and materials, and opportunities to make choices about their learning.
HighScope has distinct curricula for infants and toddlers and pre-school children. Each provides guidance on the learning environment, adult–child relationships, routines and understanding children’s development.
Respecting Diversity
Early Years - Respecting Diversity provides a framework for children, families, settings and communities to work in partnership to create a more peaceful and socially cohesive society. The programme explores how individuals build skills and knowledge to explore differences, feelings, inclusion and a changing social context.
The programme is child rights based, using persona dolls to explore and build respectful relationships, and has at its core an approach which supports managing big emotions with children and adults.
