In 2008, the Welsh Assembly Government introduced a brand new curriculum into schools called The Foundation Phase; it is a framework for children's learning for 3- to 7-year-old in Wales. The curriculum incluedes 7 areas of learning, which includes:- Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Mathematical Development
- Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
- Welsh Language Development
- Physical Development
- Creative Development.
Note how subject terms like "Arts" or "Aesthetic" is absent in the 7 areas? The usual "arts" subjects are grouped under "creative development." The document says:
"Children should be continually developing their imagination and creativity across the curriculum. Their natural curiosity and disposition to learn should be stimulated by everyday sensory experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Children should engage in creative, imaginative and expressive activities in art, craft, design, music, dance and movement…"
Isn't this great? The topic approach allows children exercise their imagination and creativity not for the sake of fulfilling subject requirement, but for the sake of learning about the world around them. Another thing I like about the curriculum is its emphasis on outdoor learning, which can be a luxury experience to a lot of Asian children.
Here is a video of the creative development program in one of the pilot schools in Wales.
Click here to see the curriculum framework
