4.4 Summary of Section 4

The areas of literacy, science and maths are broad, overlap and impact a child’s connection with the rest of the school curriculum alongside their understanding of the social and physical world around them. For some children these areas are fascinating fields of study and discovery, yet for others their enjoyment wanes early in their schooling. A narrow skills-based approach to literacy may obscure the potential of a playful and creative engagement and its relevance across the curriculum. With some overlap with feelings about mathematics, science also suffers from damaging stereotypes about what ‘it’ is outside the classroom, and who it is for. The lack of confidence passed from family member or teacher to the child can lead to a lack of confidence that is similar to the maths anxiety described. For practitioners, a reflection about their own experiences, confidence and enjoyment of these key elements of the curriculum may help as they seek to foster not only skills but delight and wonder.