Foundations of Character - Developing Character and Values in the Early Years

Foundations of Character takes a deep and insightful look into character and values development during the 'early years' phase of education. It is commonly assumed that the influences on the early years of a child'slife are determinative for the future individual: the evidence from this report suggests that it is more complex. Children's exposure to and engagement in early childhood education is currently a widespread phenomenon in England, with 92% of three year olds and 98% of four year olds benefitting from some free early years education of up to 15 hours per week. This study aimed to explore the developing dispositions, values and attitudes of a sample of young children in the familiar contexts of their homes, early education settings, and primary schools. It was hoped that this exploration would also provide insights into the values of the significant adults in these children's lives, and these adults' views about the development of character and values.