Schemas in Early Years:
Building Foundations for Learning

Equip yourself with the skills to recognise and support schema play in early years. This course focuses on understanding children’s natural play behaviours, enhancing learning through schema-based approaches, and fostering each child’s unique development.

Enhancing Early Learning with Schema Play

Identify Common Schemas in Early Years

Gain the skills to recognise repeated play patterns that children naturally use, such as trajectory, rotation, and transporting schemas, helping you understand each child’s learning style.

Understand the Role of Schemas in Development

Learn how schemas contribute to cognitive, physical, and emotional development, offering insights into how play helps children build essential skills and independence.

Confidently Observe and Document Schema Play

Develop techniques for observing and recording schema behaviours, enabling you to track each child’s growth and adapt activities to support their unique interests.

Create Schema-Friendly Learning Environments

Explore ways to design flexible, engaging spaces that support schema play, using open-ended materials and adaptable layouts to encourage exploration and curiosity.

Engage Families in Supporting Schema Play

Discover strategies for involving families in schema-based learning, providing them with practical ideas to extend schema play at home and deepen their connection to their child’s learning.

Reflect and Grow as an Early Years Practitioner

Enhance your professional skills with reflective practices that help you continuously improve your schema-based support, creating a richer, more responsive learning environment for all children.

Course Information

How To
Course Modules
Duration
Assessments
Disclaimer

Step 1
Click the 'Launch Course' button to begin your learning journey. Work through all the course content at your own pace, ensuring you fully understand each section. Don’t forget to complete and pass each module’s assessment. Once you’ve successfully completed all the modules, your course progress will show as 100% completed.

Step 2
Congratulations on completing the course! Your next step is to click the 'Feedback Form' button. Take a moment to share your thoughts on the course. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us continuously improve the learning experience for future users.

Step 3
You’ve now unlocked your personalised certificate! Click the 'View Certificate' button below to access and download your certificate. Celebrate your achievement by sharing it with your employer or adding it to your professional records.

This course is designed to take approximately 60 minutes to complete, though the actual time may vary depending on how deeply you engage with the material. Everyone learns at their own pace, so take the time you need to fully understand each concept.


Time Breakdown:

Module 1 should take around 30 minutes to complete.

Module 2 should take around 30 minutes to complete.


To get the most out of this course, focus on absorbing the content rather than rushing through it. Reflect on the material, take notes, and think about how you can apply these insights to your daily practice. Meaningful learning is about understanding and growth, not just finishing quickly.

To successfully complete this course, you’ll need to achieve a score of 80% or higher on the final assessments at the end of each module. This course has 2 modules so there are 2 assessments. The landing page of each assessment will give further details. This pass mark ensures that you’ve understood the core concepts and are prepared to confidently apply them in practice.

You’re not limited to a single attempt - feel free to take the assessments as many times as you need to achieve your best result. Each assessment includes built-in feedback to help you reflect on your answers and deepen your understanding.

If you encounter any questions or need additional support, our experienced team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance or clarification as you progress through the course. Remember, the assessments are designed to support your learning journey, not to cause stress. Take your time and aim for mastery!
All our courses are regularly reviewed and updated to align with the latest statutory guidance, legislation, and best practices in early years education. However, it is the responsibility of individual practitioners and organisations to ensure the training meets the specific requirements of their Local Authority or regulatory body. Local policies and procedures may differ, and additional training may be required to fully comply with their standards.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the course content, we cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors resulting from practitioners misinterpreting or failing to apply the guidance provided. Practitioners are expected to act within the boundaries of their role and adhere to professional and organisational guidelines at all times.

We maintain the integrity and validity of our courses by continually updating content to reflect changes in legislation, policies, and procedures. This course also includes public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, ensuring the information is accurate, accessible, and credible.
Module 1: Understanding Schemas
This module introduces schemas as repeated patterns of behaviour that children use to explore and make sense of the world. You’ll learn about key schemas such as transporting, trajectory, and enclosing, and how recognising these behaviours can offer insights into children’s learning and development.

Module 2: Applying Schema Knowledge in Practice
In this module, you’ll develop essential observation and documentation skills, learn how to identify and document schemas in children’s play, and explore practical strategies for designing schema-friendly environments. This module also focuses on supporting schema play through language, interaction, and family partnerships, ensuring deeper engagement and enhanced learning outcomes.

Our students love us  

"This course transformed my understanding of children’s play. I can now better support each child’s unique learning journey."
— Emma R.
"A wonderful introduction to schemas! It’s given me the tools to identify different learning patterns and adapt my practice accordingly."
— Katie L.