Welcome to the International Early Years Curriculum

There are eight Learning Principles that underpin all practice in the IEYC, developed from    our research report findings.

1. The earliest years of life are important in their own right.

2. Children should be supported to learn and develop at their own unique pace.

3. Play is an essential aspect of all children’s learning and development.

4. Learning happens when developmentally-appropriate, teacher-scaffolded and child-initiated experiences harness children’s natural curiosity in an enabling environment.

5. Independent and interdependent learning experiences create a context for personal development and are the foundation of international mindedness.

6. Knowledge and skills development lead to an increasing sense of understanding when children are provided with opportunities to explore and express their ideas in multiple ways.

7. Ongoing assessment, in the form of evaluation and reflection, is effective when it involves a learning-link with the home.

8. Learning should be motivating, engaging and fun, opening up a world of wonder for children where personal interests can flourish.

The IEYC process of learning captures children’s natural curiosity as a starting point and within the proper environment balances child-initiated and teacher-guided learning.

All IEYC learning and development is underpinned by a set of four Learning Strands.

Each Learning Strand provides descriptions of what children will experience and learn about through contextualized activities woven into IEYC units of learning

1. Independence and Interdependence

2. Communicating

3. Enquiring

4. Healthy Living and Physical Well-Being