Making school a happy place for learners is a combined outcome of people, places and activities. The key people are the teachers. ... By creating a positive and supportive environment for learning, the teacher is actively modelling how they would like children to behave. Equally important are the parents or caregivers.

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Research has consistently shown that a solid foundation in the early years of schooling is extremely beneficial to a child’s cognitive development. It is also important to consider children’s affective, or emotional, experiences. Motivation and enthusiasm are key components of successful learning, so an important question is what parents and teachers can do to make school a happy place for young learners. For those children who have been fortunate enough to attend a good pre-school or, in South Africa, a Grade R class, the first days of school are likely to be more familiar and probably less threatening. However, there are ways in which teachers and parents can make any child’s all-important first days memorable and motivating. People, places and activities all matter Making school a happy place for learners is a combined outcome of people, places and activities. The key people are the teachers. A welcoming smile and a caring demeanour will allow the child to feel safe and noticed, and helps develop confidence. By creating a positive and supportive environment for learning, the teacher is actively modelling how they would like children to behave. Equally important are the parents or caregivers. The key for parents and caregivers is to create a sense of excitement for this milestone of life without inducing stress or anxiety. Preparatory work at home, like reading to the child or encouraging conversation, stimulates curiosity and ignites the imagination – both of which are huge investments for learning. Attention to place is also crucial. Unfortunately schools often do not look like interesting, exciting and well-organised environments for learning. A school that is neat and clean, where children’s work and school activities are displayed on the walls and where information is easily viewed, creates the impression of being cheerful, orderly, well-managed and focused on learning. An investigation conducted by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education into “schools that work” showed how schools that focused on the central tasks of teaching, learning and management with a sense of responsibility, purpose and commitment were able to overcome many of their challenges and to create a positive environment for learning.

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