What does it mean to understand the world when you’re four? From the technology they encounter to the people, places and environmental issues they see around them, even our youngest children are beginning to notice, question and make sense of what they experience. The updated Birth to 5 Matters guidance reflects this, with new learning objectives around children’s understanding of themselves and others, sustainability and technology. So, what’s new - and what might these changes mean for Early Years practice? People and Communities in the Early Years Several of the new objectives focus on children looking beyond their own experiences. Children are encouraged to recognise similarities and differences between themselves, friends and family, and begin to compare their own experiences with those of others. This is something that can happen naturally when exploring the news. A Picture News story might introduce a person, place or experience that feels familiar to a child, or something completely new. It can prompt children to make connections with their own lives, notice similarities and differences and hear how others respond to the same story. The updates also include children beginning to notice the impact their behaviour can have on the environment. Stories about animals, habitats, weather and our planet can give these ideas a relevant real-world context and help children connect them with what they see around them. Technology and media literacy in the Early Years One particularly interesting addition is the expectation that children begin to recognise that people, places and objects can be real, imaginary or generated by technology. With AI-generated images and digital content becoming increasingly commonplace, these are important early foundations for media literacy. Exploring real photographs and news stories together gives children opportunities to look closely, ask questions about what they see and begin to consider where information has come from. This is already an important part of Picture News, where children are encouraged not simply to receive information, but to notice, question and share what they think. PSED, difference and belonging in the Early Years The updated Sense of Self objectives also include a growing awareness of social groups and acceptance of children who may be different from themselves. News stories regularly bring different people, families, communities and experiences into the classroom. They can provide a natural starting point for noticing similarities and differences, hearing different perspectives and making connections beyond children’s immediate experiences. These new objectives reflect something that has long been important to Picture News: giving children opportunities to explore what is happening in the world, ask questions and begin to understand their own place within it. If you have any questions about Picture News Early Years or would like to find out more, our team is always happy to help. Email us at help@picture-news.co.uk and we’ll be in touch. Help meet these new updates in your classroom and see how the resources can be used in practice with a free sample of Picture News Early Years.
