In Pre-Nursery, Expressive Arts and Design begins with children exploring the world through their senses and discovering what they can do with different materials, sounds and movements. Children are given opportunities to explore paint, playdough, paper, natural materials and other resources, enjoying the experience of touching, moving, squashing, pouring and changing materials. They begin to notice the marks they can make and the sounds they can create through their actions. Music, songs and movement are also an important part of their learning, with children encouraged to join in with familiar songs, copy actions and explore moving their bodies in different ways. Through these experiences, children begin to express their ideas and feelings while developing their curiosity and confidence to explore. At Britannica, we support this by providing a wide range of open-ended resources and modelling different ways that materials can be used. At this stage, the process of exploring and experimenting is more important than creating a finished product.
In Nursery, children begin to develop greater control and purpose in the way they use materials and resources. They are encouraged to explore what happens when they mix colours, join materials together, change shapes and use tools in different ways. Children may begin with an idea of what they would like to create and then experiment with different materials to see how they can bring their ideas to life. They also develop their imagination through role play, music, dance and small world experiences, using objects and resources to represent things from their own experiences. For example, a cardboard box might become a house, a vehicle or something completely different depending on the child's ideas. Children are encouraged to talk about what they have made, explain their ideas and make changes as they explore. Our teachers in Early Years support children by introducing new materials, modelling techniques and asking questions that encourage them to think about what they could try next. This helps children become increasingly confident in making choices and expressing their own creative ideas.
In Reception, the children are encouraged to explore a variety of materials and problem solve how to bring their ideas into reality. After deciding what they would like to make, the children think carefully about which materials would be most appropriate for representing their ideas. They learn that materials can be used for different purposes and that their imagination can come to life when they manipulate and adapt materials in new ways. For example, cardboard would be a more suitable material to represent a wall than bubble wrap because a wall is hard and strong. We encourage children to use trial and error, testing different ideas and making changes when something does not work as they expected. They are also encouraged to reflect on their process and finished creation, thinking about whether they are happy with the outcome or whether they could refine their ideas to make them stronger, more detailed or more effective. Through these experiences, children develop their creativity alongside important skills such as problem solving, decision making, perseverance and critical thinking.
From the sensory wonder of Pre-Nursery to the thoughtful problem-solving in Reception, expressive arts form the heart of early childhood development. When children play with instruments, explore textures, and express themselves through dance and imaginative play, they are developing critical cognitive, physical, and emotional foundations. By prioritizing the creative process over the final product, we empower our young learners to think boldly, persevere through challenges, and step confidently into the future.
Jennifer Jacques
Reception Class Teacher
