These two areas of learning are all about learners making sense of the world and making connections, to solve problems, make choices and to communicate their ideas and feelings. To support learners' creative and scientific development, certain skills are taught and opportunities given to develop their ideas, explore and experiment.

The specific areas support the foundations for future work in science, design and technology, expressive arts, history, geography and computing. Practical activities are planned which enable learners to learn new skills and to explore, observe and talk about their experiences.

Learners are involved in exploring colour, texture and shape; experimenting with paint, drawing materials, collage and clay; exploring and creating the different sounds of musical instruments; using their senses to investigate objects and materials such as sand, water and fabrics; finding out about and identifying features of living things both indoors and out; talking about how things work, for example how and why programmable toys move, developing understanding of their own cultures and those of other people; and using different construction kits to build objects they have designed themselves.

As with Key Stage 1 and 2, EYFS learners are taught to think about how they can make connections in their learning and secure knowledge which they will build on as they progress through school. In EYFS, learners explore through questioning and challenges, often based around favourite books and stories