Development Matters
Development Matters is a key guidance document used in early childhood education in England. It helps teachers and early years practitioners track and support children's learning and development from birth to 5 years old. Think of it as a roadmap that shows what children typically do at different ages and how educators can help them progress. It's not a strict checklist, but rather a flexible tool that helps educators plan activities and assess children's progress while recognizing that every child develops at their own pace.
Examples in Resumes
Implemented Development Matters framework to create age-appropriate learning activities
Used Development Matters guidance to assess and track children's progress
Led staff training sessions on applying Development Matters in daily classroom practice
Typical job title: "Early Years Practitioners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Early Years Practitioners
Professional Networks
Resource Communities
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you lead your team in implementing Development Matters across different age groups?
Expected Answer: A senior practitioner should discuss strategies for supporting staff, mentoring, observation techniques, and how to adapt the framework for different ages while maintaining consistency across the setting.
Q: How do you use Development Matters to support children with special educational needs?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of inclusive practice, adapting activities, working with external professionals, and using the framework flexibly to support individual needs.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use Development Matters to plan activities that support all areas of learning?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to create balanced activities covering different development areas, while following children's interests and accounting for individual progress.
Q: How do you involve parents in their child's learning journey using Development Matters?
Expected Answer: Should discuss methods of sharing progress, suggesting home activities, and gathering information from parents about their child's development.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the main areas of learning in Development Matters?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list the prime and specific areas of learning and give basic examples of activities that support each area.
Q: How do you observe and document children's progress using Development Matters?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic observation techniques, recording methods, and how to match observations to development statements.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of child development stages
- Ability to plan simple activities
- Basic observation and assessment skills
- Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
Mid (2-5 years)
- Detailed activity planning across all areas
- Parent partnership working
- Assessment and progress tracking
- Supporting children with additional needs
Senior (5+ years)
- Team leadership and mentoring
- Curriculum development
- Quality improvement strategies
- Strategic planning and implementation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Lack of understanding of child development stages
- Unable to explain observation and assessment methods
- No knowledge of safeguarding requirements
- Poor understanding of play-based learning
- Inability to adapt activities for different age groups
Related Terms
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