Curriculum Subject Information

How Children Learn:

Building Strong Foundations at Woodfield Infant School and Nursery

We want to share with you how we help your child learn and grow. Understanding our approach will help you see why we teach the way we do, and why sometimes lessons might start at a point that seems different from where you think your child is working.

🧠 How Children's Brains Learn

Children's working memory can only hold a small amount of information at a time – usually about 5 or 6 items. This is different from their long-term memory, which can store much more. Think of working memory like a small desk where your child processes new information before filing it away in their long-term memory (like a filing cabinet).

Why Small Steps Matter

When we teach in small, manageable steps, we help your child:

Avoid feeling overwhelmed – Cognitive overload can cause children to become overwhelmed and struggle to engage with the rest of the lesson.
Remember what they learn – If children are overloaded with a lot of information at once, it is less likely to enter their long-term memory.
Build confidence – Success at each small step motivates them to keep learning.

🏗️ Building Strong Foundations

Why We Sometimes Start 'Lower' Than Expected

You might notice that sometimes your child’s work seems easier than what they can do. This is intentional! Here's why:

We're checking for gaps – Teachers must be able to identify and plug any gaps in learning so children can reach a mastery level of learning. Even tiny gaps in understanding can cause problems later.

We want deep understanding, not just quick answers – Teaching for mastery is about achieving deep, secure learning for all children. It also involves extending the learning of children by teaching more things on the same topic to allow children to make links and generalisations. It also encourages children to explain their learning and the mechanics of the processes rather than just giving an answer.

Think of it like building a house:

If one brick is loose in the foundation, the whole structure becomes unstable.
We'd rather strengthen the foundation than rush to build the roof.
A strong foundation means your child can build higher and more confidently.

📚 How We Teach

Breaking Learning into Chunks

We separate information into smaller, more manageable sequences. This reduces cognitive load as each 'chunk', is easier to remember than all the information together.

For example:

In Read Write Inc, we teach one sound at a time before blending them together.
In maths, we break down problems into clear sequential steps.
In writing, we focus on one skill or piece of knowledge (like adjectives) before adding another.

Using Pictures/Actions and Words Together (Dual Coding)

We use a combination of words and pictures to present information to children. This reduces cognitive load because the working memory can accept information through both hearing things and seeing things.

You might see:

Visual timetables in classrooms
Pictures alongside new vocabulary
Diagrams and actions to explain concepts
Demonstrations using real objects

Practising What They've Learned

Retrieval practice involves retrieving information from the long-term memory and bringing it into the working memory. Through doing this, children can then make links and build upon what they already know with new information.

This looks like:

Regular quick quizzes on previous learning.
Connecting new learning to things they already know.

Showing, Not Just Telling

We provide children with a step-by-step model of how to perform a task or solve a problem. We use an ‘I do, We do, You do’ approach. This means children can see the learning modelled by an adult, practise application of this knowledge with peers and adult support all before moving on to independent application.

💡 What This Means for Your Child

They will:

Feel confident because they understand each step.
Remember more because their brain isn't overloaded.
Build on solid foundations that will support all future learning.
Develop a love of learning because they experience success.

You might notice:

Work that seems 'easy' at first – this is deliberate!
Lots of repetition and practice – this helps move learning into long-term memory.
Teachers checking understanding frequently – we want to catch any gaps early.
Your child explaining why they did something, not just what they did.

🏡 How You Can Help at Home

Be patient with small steps – Learning takes time, and rushing can create gaps.

Celebrate effort and understanding – Praise your child when they can explain why something works, not just get the right answer.

Talk to us – If you have questions, please ask. We're happy to explain our approach further.