Setting: A university tutorial room

Participants: An international group of 3rd year BEd (Early Years) students and their lecturer

Subject: Curriculum in the early childhood setting

Lecturer: We've spent some time talking around the idea of a curriculum and I think we all have some ideas about what a curriculum is. In your reading today, Peter Moss argues that curriculum development is a political act. He says it is constructed – reflecting the values and beliefs of those involved at a particular point in time. He also says it is contested – there is no one agreed idea of curriculum, but rather multiple views of what it should be. What I'd like you to do in your groups is talk about what you think a curriculum is and what you think an early years curriculum should achieve for children. Take about 15 minutes to discuss this and then we will discuss it as a group. Get someone from your group to record your ideas, so that we can share them.

Students move off into groups of about six people and begin the task set by the lecturer.

Anna: I hate it when she asks these sorts of questions! I never feel like there is a right answer.

Kelly: Yes, it is annoying – hard to see what relevance this has to what happens in the reality of the classroom, but I suppose we'd better have a go at answering the question or she's bound to pick on us for an answer.