Home Learning: Building Blocks for Lifelong Learning
We are starting to better understand how important parents and carers are in helping children learn at home. According to the Education Endowment Foundation (2021), getting parents involved is one of the best ways to support a child’s learning and growth.
When we talk about learning at home, we mean both the space where a child plays and learns, and the loving relationships they have there. It’s the simple, everyday things—like talking, playing, and doing things together—that really help children grow. Studies show that these daily interactions matter more for a child’s development than how much money parents make or how educated they are (Sylva et al., 2010).
EPPSE, 2021What parents do is more important than who parents are.
Children learn best when they’re doing things that make them curious and excited. Whether it’s going outside, building with blocks, cooking, or reading stories, these activities help children learn in meaningful ways. What really makes a difference is the back-and-forth conversations between adults and children. These chats help build language skills, confidence, and the ability to think critically.
When parents are warm, supportive, and encourage children to explore, it helps children become confident learners. As Dr. Laura Jana says in The Toddler Brain (2017), the skills children build early on - like curiosity, communication, and teamwork - are the building blocks for success in school and life.
To support this, Hampshire County Council’s Services for Young Children’s Advisory Team has developed a series of leaflets filled with fun, low-cost activities for children aged 0–5. These guides are designed to be inclusive and adaptable, offering ideas that can be enjoyed by individual children or the whole family.
National initiatives such as Hungry Little Minds and Tiny Happy People continue to promote the importance of playful learning and positive interactions at home. These platforms offer practical tips and videos to help parents make the most of everyday moments.
Here are some direct links to useful websites made for parents:
Learning conversations and telling stories: 3 to 5 years - NHS
Portal: Hampshire Healthy Families
Starting Reception | Useful links
A short video clip featuring The Princess of Wales (formerly Duchess of Cambridge) also highlights the importance of parental involvement in early development. As a mother herself, she shares insights into how simple, everyday interactions can have a lasting impact on a child’s growth.
Remote Learning
Resources designed to support schools and settings to provide remote learning in the EYFS can be found on the SfYC Moodle under the Remote Learning QuickLink.
Users will need to log onto the Moodle using their usual setting or school username and password. To access the relevant section, when prompted please use the enrolment code REMYR for Year R materials and REMEYFS for materials for younger children.
