1.3 Curriculum and Pedagogy: What Children Learn and How They Learn

Curriculum and pedagogy are two connected parts of effective early years practice. Curriculum describes what children should learn as they grow and develop, including knowledge, skills and competencies. Pedagogy concerns how educators support that learning through everyday methods, strategies and experiences. This lesson explains why the two need to be aligned: a clear learning goal should be matched with an approach that is accessible, engaging and developmentally appropriate. It also explores how alignment can support inclusion by providing different routes for children with varied needs, interests and starting points, without lowering expectations. An early literacy example demonstrates how storytelling, singing and interactive games can introduce vocabulary, phonics, sounds and rhythm in playful ways. The lesson concludes by presenting curriculum as the destination and pedagogy as the route, encouraging practitioners to ask what children need to learn and what the best way is for them to learn it. Read the related CMS Vocational Training guide: https://cmsvoc.co.uk/blog/eyfs-stages... Chapters 00:00 Understanding curriculum and pedagogy 00:54 Aligning learning goals and teaching approaches 02:00 Inclusion and developmentally appropriate practice 02:51 Applying pedagogy through early literacy play 04:20 How playful activities make learning active 04:56 Using the curriculum-and-pedagogy planning question