Early learning goals

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

ELG: Managing Self

Children at the expected level of development will:

• Explain the reasons for rules, know right from wrong and try to behave accordingly.
• Be confident to try new activities and show independence, resilience and perseverance in the face of challenge.

ELG: Self-Regulation

• Show an understanding of their own feelings and those of others, and begin to regulate their behaviour accordingly.
• Give focused attention to what the teacher says, responding appropriately even when engaged in an activity, and show an ability to follow instructions involving several ideas or actions.

ELG: Building Relationships

Children at the expected level of development will:

• Work and play cooperatively and take turns with others.
• Form positive attachments to adults and friendships with peers.
• Show sensitivity to their own and others’ needs.

See Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage, 2026 – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 

Development matters

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children in Reception will be learning to:

• Build constructive and respectful relationships.
• Express their feelings and consider the feelings of others.
• Think about the perspectives of others.
• Show resilience and perseverance in the face of challenge.
• Identify and moderate their own feelings socially and emotionally.

Characteristics of effective teaching and learning

• Playing and exploring.
• Active learning.
• Creating and thinking critically.

See Development Matters (non-statutory curriculum guidance) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.