Nurseries need to prioritise communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development to give children the best start in life, according to Ofsted.

Ofsted’s latest research review aims to help nursery leaders and practitioners design a curriculum that  supports children in the three prime areas of the EYFS.

Best Start in Life 2: The 3 Prime Areas of Learning states that communication and language, physical development and social and emotional development are crucial to children’s early learning and later success. It also says they are interlinked – language and communication is associated with emotional wellbeing, and children who are more physically active are better able to regulate their emotions.

The report also highlights the importance of frequent interactions between children and adults. It says high-quality interactions are more likely to take place when:

• practitioners are aware of what children already know and can do and respond accordingly
• practitioners know the curriculum they want children to learn in advance
• all children experience enough planned and incidental interactions with adults to learn what they need to know

Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said: “The research clearly shows that early years practitioners who focus on the prime areas, and understand that every interaction is a teaching opportunity, leave children equipped with the tools they need to thrive.”

Stella Ziolkowski, director of quality and training at the National Day Nurseries Association, said the report reaffirmed what early years practitioners already know and do every day.

“With the sector facing an ongoing staffing crisis it is more important than ever that we recognise and champion the dedication and commitment of our workforce,” she said. “We want to support new entrants into the workforce to understand the importance of their interaction with children from birth and it is good to see clarification from Ofsted that confirms this.”

The final part of Ofsted’s research series will focus on the EYFS four specific areas of learning: literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.