programme content

The Peep Learning Together Programme (LTP) covers five strands of child development:  Personal, social and emotional development  ~  Communication and language  ~  Early literacy  ~  Early maths  ~  Health and physical development. See below for an overview of what each strand covers.

There are 74 topics within the Programme, 14 or 15 in each strand. All the topics contain key child development information along with delivery guidance, handouts for parents, and activities which help meet the topic aim. Each topic relates to one or more developmental stage: Babies, Toddlers and/or Pre-school. The Programme is intentionally flexible - practitioners can use any topic from any strand or developmental stage, in any order, to meet the needs and interests of the families that you work with. 

When practitioners attend our Peep LTP Training they are given online access to the whole Programme in our log-in Members Area - see examples below.

Overview programme maps

> Learning Together Programme Topic Aims Map  - an overview showing the aim(s) and relevant age/ developmental stage(s) for each of the 74 topics

> Learning Together Programme Strand Map - one-page overview of the 5 strands and 74 child development topics.

Example of a learning together programme topic

Click the links below to see examples of the downloadable resources available to LTP-trained practitioners for one of the topics, Musical Interactions (for toddlers and/or pre-schoolers):

>  Communication and Language strand - Musical Interactions topic  [for practitioners' planning.  LTP-trained practitioners can buy a hardcopy set of the 74 topics in our Learning Together Programme Folder if they prefer.]

>  Session plan - Question talk time  |  Session plan - Message talk time  |  Session plan - Activity talk time  [for practitioners - select one, and adapt if appropriate]

>  Topic card  [for practitioners - sharing the topic aim with parents and/or course planning]

>  Topic handout  [for parents/carers]

>  Things to do at home handout - Ideas for songs that support language development [for parents/carers]

> Things to do at home handout - Fox in a box song sheet and props [for parents/carers]

>  Peep Tip - how songs and rhymes support talking and listening  [for parents/carers]

Trained practitioners can also access general support and resources on our login website, covering recruiting families, different types of delivery, adaptable posters, leaflets and certificates, etc. 

5 strands of child development in the Learning Together Programme 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development covers:

• the significance of bonding, secure attachment and positive relationships for promoting babies’ and young children’s learning and development
• developing self-esteem, confidence and positive dispositions for learning
• how babies and young children develop an awareness of their individuality and personal identity (sense of self)
• the importance of play (including schemas and treasure baskets) and the quality of the Home Learning Environment for supporting learning and development
• building resilience and self-regulation - tuning into and helping babies and children to manage their feelings
• understanding and managing children’s behaviour
• an introduction to ORIM (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction and Modelling) for parents/carers.

Communication and Language covers:

• how babies communicate through body language, facial expression, eye contact and sounds
• the importance of early interactions with babies, for bonding and attachment
• how babies’ speech and language develops through watching, listening, making sense of sounds and beginning to use their own voice
• the importance of everyday interactions (speaking and listening, especially in the mother tongue) in developing young children's speech and language, thinking skills, problem-solving...
• the significance of musical interactions, songs and rhymes for supporting early learning and development
• the importance of play in developing communication and language skills
• the benefits and challenges of engaging with technology
• exploring the language of maths through play and everyday situations.

Early Literacy covers:

• the benefits of sharing books and stories with babies and children
• the significance of sharing books and stories and making home-made books, in promoting reading and writing skills
• the importance of books and stories for developing children’s understanding and awareness of the world around them
• the use of storytelling and exploring stories through play for developing children’s early literacy skills and enhancing their imagination
• how an awareness of environmental print (logos, signs, labels etc in the home, and out and about) can support early literacy skills
• exploring the sounds in words through songs, rhymes, poems, stories and everyday conversations
• the importance of mark making and play for developing early writing skills
• the significance of providing everyday opportunities to explore and experience reading and writing in meaningful contexts (e.g. shopping lists, birthday cards)
• exploring the use of technology in early literacy development.

Early Maths covers:

• how babies and young children learn about numbers and other mathematical concepts through talking, playing and having fun as part of everyday life
• the importance of adults modelling a positive attitude toward exploring early maths
• how numbers are used in different ways in different contexts
• the importance of sharing books, toys, games, songs and rhymes for supporting children’s understanding of numbers and counting
• the significance of routines and things with a working order for helping to develop a sense of order
• exploring numbers, shapes, patterns, sorting, matching and measuring.

Health and Physical Development covers:

• the importance of food for supporting growth, development and health
• how babies and young children develop food preferences
• the role of mealtimes, as well as buying, preparing, cooking and sharing food in supporting early learning and development
• the benefits of exploring nature for increasing well-being, learning to manage risks, and supporting early learning and development
• physical development - including the significance of music, songs and rhymes, as well as exploring language and movement to support conceptual understanding
• brain development
• sensory development – including sight, smell, touch, sound and taste, as well as spatial awareness, balance and co-ordination.