ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the Characteristics of Effective Learning and how they might be seen in cooking and food preparation. The Characteristics of Effective Learning look at how children learn and consider how children engage with their environment and other people. Development Matters states that these Characteristics “underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.” These Characteristics are: playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically. Although these Characteristics are identified within the EYFS, they can be applied to children within Key Stage One. It is so clear to see the Characteristics of Effective Learning in play when children are cooking, that it is easy to understand why teachers and practitioners felt the area was such a powerful resource for learning and development and have decided to keep it as an area of provision.
