Quick description

The Characteristics of Effective Learning (COEL) are in many ways, more important than many of the Learning and Development goals. They are the characteristics that set children up to become successful learners for life. This affects how well children perform in school and even how successful they will be as adults. But, what does ‘playing and exploring’, ‘active learning’ or ‘creating and thinking critically’ actually mean that you are supposed to do?

Are you confused by the Characteristics? This pack can help. It contains information about the Characteristics of Effective Learning, broken down in a way that is easy to absorb, as well as business tools, printable posters and activities.

More Information

The Characteristics of Effective Learning (COEL) are lifelong skills, but they begin in the Early Years. This means that Early Years professionals, such as childminders, have an enormous influence in helping children successfully gain strong Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Before sending children off to school you can really help them by ensuring they have the ability to concentrate, to persevere at a task and approach new things with a can-do attitude. The reverse is also true. If children are not supported to develop the COEL, they grow into adults who avoid challenges because they believe they are not capable, who worry about their limitations and give up on things whenever they become too difficult.  

By improving your understanding of what the COEL really mean, you can make a massive positive difference to children’s futures.

This pack includes:

Important Information about the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Learn what the Characteristics of Effective Learning are and why they are important to understand and promote in your setting.

Learn the technical terms associated with the Characteristics of Effective Learning and what they actually mean.

Learn about 'Playing and Exploring,' why it is important for children to have free play time and the benefits of open ended resources.

Find out what 'Active Learning' means, what intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are and why it is important to let children fail. 

Discover what Creating and Thinking Critically (or Creative and Critical Thinking) is, how to model being a thinker and the importance of curiosity.

Consider, what are more important, the Learning and Development Goals or the Characteristics of Effective Learning? 

Practical Training Activities and Resources designed to help you learn and practise your new skills and knowledge.

Have a go at interpreting sample observations different ways depending on whether you are concentrating on the Characteristics of Effective Learning or a child's learning and development.

Sample observations with accompanying photographs to help you practice your skills at spotting the Characteristics of Effective Learning in action. (With new and updated observations added to the pack for 2025.)

Use the provided templates and sample observations to start effectively writing your own observations on the Characteristics of Effective Learning in a way that will help parents to understand them and further support their child's development at home.

Consider how you can change your language, both in your speech and in your writing, to help promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Think about how to give children choices and involve parents in working out solutions to common situations children may be involved in.

Consider how you can bring your existing resources together in new ways to promote children's active learning.

Use children's interests to encourage active learning.

How to explore themes and topics to help children develop their Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Learn about the role of role play when promoting the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Have a go at assessing your own Characteristics of Effective Learning with a fun quiz!

Evaluate how you promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Complete a setting 'Characteristics of Effective Learning ' audit to help you plan further improvements.

Activity ideas to promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning with your children.

Put your new ideas and knowledge into practice using the ideas and activities supplied in the pack.

Tools and resources.

Including printable posters, reward charts and resources to help compliment some of the activities and training in the pack. All of which have been redesigned and updated for 2025.

Pack length: 86 pages. Last updated April 2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ

N.B This pack is supplied as downloadable PDF and Word documents. If you cannot find your download links please check your junk box first in case it has gone there. If you have any problems contact me at jennifer@wellywren.co.uk and I will help. 

Products ARE NOT sent out by post

FREE THREE YEAR UPDATE GUARANTEE

This Welly Wren product come with a free three year update guarantee. If this product is updated at any point, within three years of your purchasing your pack and you are on the Childminding Best Practice Mailing list you are entitled to free updated copies.  See the frequently asked questions for more information.

Copyright/Fair Usage Statement

Please support my small business by using this pack in a fair way.

By purchasing this pack, you agree that it is for use only in your individual use. You may make as many copies as you need for the children and families in your setting BUT MUST NOT share, copy or distribute any of the materials in any way, to anyone else. If you are part of a larger group, for example, a childminding group, or a chain of settings, please purchase one pack per setting. 

The contents of this pack remain the copyright of Welly Wren Ltd.