EYFS Literacy Printable Resources & Guidance

Featured above: small selection of Literacy resources taken from across different areas of Little Owls Resources. Explore more below.

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Literacy activities, displays & planning ideas for reception, preschool, nurseries & childminders

Supporting children’s Literacy development is an important part of high-quality EYFS practice. This page brings together a wide range of EYFS Literacy printable resources, planning documents, guidance packs and play-based activity ideas for toddlers, preschool and Reception children.

Designed for nurseries, preschools, childminders and Reception classrooms, our resources help practitioners support early reading, early writing, mark-making, phonics, vocabulary, storytelling, rhyme, book enjoyment and print awareness through meaningful play and responsive adult interaction. You’ll find practical EYFS Literacy activities, phonics resources, early writing guidance, mark-making ideas, progression tools and printable provision materials aligned with Development Matters and the EYFS Framework.

Whether you are looking for Reception phonics and early writing support, preschool Phase 1 phonics activities, toddler mark-making guidance, or play-based Literacy planning ideas for continuous provision, this page includes both free EYFS printable resources and professional practitioner guidance to support confident, inclusive and developmentally appropriate Literacy practice.

Sections on this page:

⭐ Free Sample ‘Literacy’ Resources

📘 Core Guidance Surrounding ‘Literacy’ Planning & Provision

What do we mean by ‘Literacy’? | What High-Quality Literacy Practice Looks Like | Literacy Progression in EYFS | Literacy within Continuous Provision Enhancements | Inclusive Literacy Practice | SEND & EAL | Literacy and the Other Areas of Learning

🖨️ Printable Provision Resources - Search by:

✨ Top Picks

🔤 Key Words & Phrases

🗂️ Topic

📝 Planning Resources

📌 Featured Planning Resources

💡 Development Matters Examples of How to Support ‘Literacy’

• Birth to 3

• 3 and 4 Year Olds

• Reception

🧭 Age-Specific Curriculum & Pedagogy Planning Support for ‘Literacy’

Guidance Documents, Fine Motor, Mark Making, Early Writing Purpose Session Banks, Phase 1 Phonics Early Reading Curriculum System, Skills Progression Ladders, High-Impact Questions & Vocabulary, Literacy Seeds Skills Progression Pack

• Toddlers | 18 - 36 Months

• Preschool | 3 - 4 Years

• Reception | 4 - 5 Years

🏡 Continuous Provision | Age-Specific ‘Literacy’ Ideas & Guidance

➕ Further Support

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🧰 Additional ‘Literacy’ Tools & Guidance

🌈 Additional Areas of Learning

🔐 Find out more about ‘Membership Options’

⭐ Free EYFS ‘Literacy’ Printable Resources

(Click on the images below to find out more)

💡 Join as a Free Access member to download the samples above and all other free resources available on Little Owls Resources at no cost. Alternatively, explore all membership options here.

Additional Free Sample Printable Provision can be found at the top of most pages.

📘 Core Guidance Surrounding ‘Literacy’ Planning & Provision

• What do we mean by ‘Literacy’?

  “It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them, and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together. Skilled word reading, taught later, involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Writing involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing)” Development Matters

• What High-Quality Literacy Practice Looks Like

  High-quality Literacy practice in the EYFS is rooted in communication, language, storytelling, play, meaningful mark-making and a love of books. Children develop early reading and writing skills best when Literacy is purposeful, playful and connected to real experiences.

  Effective Literacy provision includes:

  • daily access to high-quality books, stories, rhymes and songs

  • meaningful mark-making opportunities across continuous provision

  • playful phonological awareness and Phase 1 phonics experiences

  • developmentally appropriate phonics teaching and application in Reception

  • adults modelling reading, writing and vocabulary in meaningful contexts

  • story-rich environments that support imagination and comprehension

  • opportunities for children to recognise that print carries meaning

  • early writing experiences linked to real purposes and play

  • fine motor and physical development opportunities supporting writing readiness

  • inclusive approaches supporting SEND, EAL and different starting points

  Literacy should be embedded throughout continuous provision, role-play, storytelling, mark-making, outdoor learning, child-initiated play and adult-guided learning.

• Literacy Progression in EYFS

  Children’s Literacy development grows through communication, shared reading, sound awareness, mark-making, storytelling, phonics and meaningful writing experiences.

  Children typically progress from:

  • enjoying songs, rhymes, stories and repeated language

  • showing interest in books, pictures and familiar print

  • joining in with repeated phrases, actions and rhymes

  • making marks through sensory and physical exploration

  • noticing environmental print, symbols and signs

  • developing awareness of rhyme, rhythm, alliteration and sounds

  • recognising names, familiar words and meaningful print

  • using marks, symbols and drawings to communicate meaning

  • applying phonics knowledge to early reading and writing

  • writing for real purposes with increasing independence and confidence

  Children develop Literacy skills at different rates and benefit from playful, language-rich environments that value stories, talk, mark-making, reading and writing as meaningful parts of everyday life.

• Literacy within Continuous Provision Enhancements

  Small enhancements within continuous provision can create meaningful opportunities for Literacy development throughout the day.

  Examples may include:

  • story sacks, puppets and retelling props

  • mark-making baskets in every provision area

  • role-play writing materials such as menus, forms, tickets and lists

  • name cards, labels and environmental print

  • rhyme and alliteration games

  • story stones, sequencing cards and picture prompts

  • outdoor chalkboards, clipboards and message stations

  • phonics-linked treasure hunts in Reception

  • book voting stations and recommendation displays

  • small world storytelling invitations

  • writing for a purpose, such as maps, signs, captions and labels

  Continuous provision should make reading, writing, storytelling and mark-making feel meaningful, useful and enjoyable.

• Inclusive Literacy Practice | SEND & EAL

  Inclusive Literacy provision supports every child to access stories, books, mark-making, phonics and early writing in ways that match their developmental stage, communication needs and interests.

  High-quality inclusive practice may include:

  • visual supports, objects and story props

  • repeated stories, songs and predictable texts

  • opportunities to use home languages and dual-language books

  • adapted mark-making tools and writing surfaces

  • sensory approaches to early mark-making

  • additional adult modelling and shared reading support

  • flexible phonics application based on individual needs

  • communication-friendly book and writing areas

  • meaningful, low-pressure opportunities to engage with print

  • close partnership with families and outside professionals where appropriate

  Children benefit from Literacy environments where books, stories, sounds, symbols and writing are accessible, purposeful and enjoyable.

• Literacy and the Other Areas of Learning

  Literacy is closely connected to all areas of learning within the EYFS curriculum.

  Communication & Language

  Strong spoken language, vocabulary, listening and storytelling skills support early reading, comprehension and writing.

  Personal, Social & Emotional Development

  Books, stories and role-play help children explore emotions, identity, relationships and social understanding.

  Physical Development

  Fine motor control, hand strength, posture and coordination support mark-making, tool use and early writing.

  Mathematics

  Stories, songs, symbols, patterns, positional language and mathematical vocabulary support early Literacy and mathematical understanding.

  Understanding the World

  Non-fiction books, labels, signs, maps and investigation prompts help children connect print with real-world meaning.

  Expressive Arts & Design

  Storytelling, role-play, music, drawing and creative mark-making all support imagination, narrative and early writing.

  Literacy should therefore be woven throughout continuous provision, adult interaction, storytelling, routines and child-initiated play.

• Guidance Informed by EYFS Best Practice

  The guidance and resources on this page are informed by:

  • the EYFS Statutory Framework

  • Development Matters

  • play-based and child-centred EYFS pedagogy

  • language-rich continuous provision

  • developmentally appropriate early reading and writing practice

  • Phase 1 phonics foundations and SSP-aligned Reception phonics

  • meaningful mark-making and early writing approaches

  • inclusive approaches supporting SEND, EAL and different starting points

  All resources should be adapted to meet the needs of individual children, cohorts and settings.

• This Guidance is Useful For

  The resources, guidance and printable materials on this page may be useful for:

  • Nursery practitioners

  • Preschool practitioners

  • Reception teachers

  • Childminders

  • EYFS leaders and managers

  • Literacy leads

  • SENDCos

  • Early Years students and trainees

  • Intervention staff

  • Parents and carers supporting early reading and writing at home

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🖨️ Printable Provision Resources

Search our ‘Literacy’ printable provision below.

✨ Top Picks

🛠️ Many of the pages linked within this section are currently being development for an improved user experience🛠️

Key Words & Phrases:

• Phonics & Early Reading - New

• Listening & Phonological Awareness

• Oral Blending & Segmenting

• Letters, Graphemes & Phonemes

• Blending & Word Reading

• Segmenting & Early Spelling

• Common Words & Common Exception Words

• Phonics in Continuous Provision

• Early Reading & Decodable Text

• Practitioner & Parent Guidance

• Letters & Sounds Phonics (Historic - including phases 1-4)

• Alphabet

• Initial Sounds

• Pre-Write Mark Making

• Letter Formation

• Pencil Control/Mark Making

• High Frequency Words

• Nonsense Words

• Alliteration

• Rhyme & Nursery Rhymes

• Traditional Tales

• Oracy & Storytelling

• Understand Print Carries Meaning

• Mathematical language

Additional Useful Pages

• Role-Play Packs

• Dual-Language Resources

• Greeting Cards

• EYFS Framework

• Planning

• Observation & Assessment

• Outdoor Area

• Growth Mindset

• Picture Communication

• Signs and Labels

• Self Registration

• Posters and Displays

Topics:

(Premium or Professional members may use the links below to access a selection of resources from within each topic that focus on Literacy skills.)

• All About Me

• Animals of the World

• Autumn

• Birds

• Books & Storytelling

• Chinese New Year

• Colours

• Construction

• Dinosaurs

• Diwali

• Easter

• Eid al-Fitr

• Epiphany

• Fairies

• Father's Day

• Fireworks

• Food

• Forest School

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears

• Halloween

• Holi

• Inventions

• Jack and the Beanstalk

• Kings and Queens

• Life Cycles

• Little Red Riding Hood

• Medicine – Doctors and Nurses

• Mexico

• Minibeasts

• Mother's Day

• Music & Sound

• New Year

• Nursery Rhymes

• On the Farm

• Outdoor Area: Picnic / Sand Play / Water Play / Mud Kitchen / Wildlife Investigation Area / Outdoor Mark Making

• Passover

• People Who Help Us

• Pets

• Pirates

• Plants

• Polar

• Ramadan

• Recycling

• Remembrance Day

• Road Safety

• Space

• Spring

• Stay Healthy

• Summer

• Teddy Bears’ Picnic

• Teeth and Oral Health

• The Three Little Pigs

• Toys

• Transport

• Under the Sea

• Wetlands

• Winter

• Zoo

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📝 Planning Resources

📌 Featured EYFS Literacy planning resources

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💡 Examples of how to support ‘Literacy’ learning and development

Extracted from Development Matters; non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage. Includes colour and black and white versions.

Files contain public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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🧭 Age-Specific Documents for Supporting ‘Literacy’

Toddlers | 18 - 36 Months

Core Toddler Room ‘Literacy’ Planning Support

Additional Toddler Room Overarching Areas of Learning Support

The following documents include elements of ‘Literacy’ which may be helpful tools within your setting’s OAP Cycle.

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Preschool | 3 - 4 Years

Core Preschool ‘Literacy’ Planning Support

Additional Preschool Overarching Areas of Learning Support

The following documents include elements of ‘Literacy’ which may be helpful tools within your setting’s OAP Cycle.

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Reception | 4 - 5 Years

Core Reception ‘Literacy’ Planning Support

Additional Reception Overarching Areas of Learning Support

The following documents include elements of ‘Literacy’ which may be helpful tools within your setting’s OAP Cycle.

For overarching ‘Area of Learning’ Support such as Curriculum Intent Grids, Development Indicators and Assessment Tools, please visit our ‘Observations & Assessment’ page.

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🏡 Literacy within Continuous Provision | Age-Specific Ideas & Guidance

• Toddlers | 18–36 Months

  Toddler Literacy provision should focus on early foundations: sharing books, enjoying rhymes, noticing sounds, making marks and understanding that symbols and print can carry meaning.

  • Cosy book areas with familiar stories, songs and picture books

  • Rhyme baskets with props for repeated songs and nursery rhymes

  • Large-scale mark-making using chalk, paint, water and chunky tools

  • Role-play opportunities with menus, lists, bags, phones and notebooks

  • Environmental print within familiar routines and provision areas

  • Story sacks and simple props supporting shared attention and language

  • Sensory mark-making in sand, foam, paint and dough

  • Adults modelling reading and writing for real purposes during play

  • Opportunities to hear repeated phrases, rhythm, alliteration and rhyme

  Related Guidance:

  • Continuous Provision Setup Guides | Toddler Room

    • Small World

    • Messy / Wet Play

    • Dry Sensory & Loose Parts

    • Construction

    • Role Play / Home Corner

    • Mark Making

    • Book Area / Reading Nook

    • Music & Sound

    • Outdoor

  • Continuous Provision Maps (18–36 Months)

    • C&L

    • PSED

    • PD

    • Maths Seeds

    • Literacy Seeds

    • UW

    • EAD

  • Continuous Provision Audit & Resourcing List

  • Continuous Provision Rotation Planner Toolkit

  • Why Mark Making Matters — Before Writing | Toddlers (18–36 Months)

  • Literacy Seed Skills Progression Pack | Toddlers (18–36 Months)

  • Toddler Activity Cards Pack | Toddlers (18–36 Months)

• Preschool | 3–4 Years

  Preschool Literacy provision should support children’s enjoyment of books, early phonological awareness, mark-making confidence, print awareness and emergent writing through play-based experiences.

  • Storytelling areas with puppets, props and familiar story resources

  • Phase 1 phonics activities focused on sound, rhythm, rhyme and alliteration

  • Meaningful mark-making in role-play, construction and creative areas

  • Name recognition opportunities within routines and self-registration

  • Book corners that invite conversation, retelling and independent browsing

  • Writing materials available across continuous provision

  • Small group story, rhyme and listening games

  • Early writing opportunities such as cards, labels, maps, signs and lists

  • Fine motor activities supporting hand strength and control

  Related Guidance:

  • Universal Continuous Provision Packs (Preschool | 3–4 Years)

    • Construction Area

    • Small World Area

    • Role-Play Area

    • Writing / Mark-Making Area

    • Maths Area

    • Creative Area (Art & Making)

    • Investigation / STEM / Discovery Area

    • Book Corner / Reading Den

    • Fine Motor Station

    • Water Area

    • Sand Area

    • Snack Area / Independence Station

    • Outdoor Provision Core Zones

      • Physical play

      • Gross motor skills

      • Nature area

      • Outdoor mark-making

      • Outdoor maths

  • Preschool Environment & Provision Map Audit Pack

  • How Continuous Provision Works in Our Preschool Curriculum

  • Continuous Provision Audit Checklist

  • Continuous Provision FAQs (For Preschool Practitioners)

  • Fine-Motor & Mark-Making Mini Session Bank | Preschool (3–4 Years)

  • Preschool Skills Progression Ladder: Fine Motor & Hand Control

  • Preschool Skills Progression Ladder: Early Writing

  • Preschool Skills Progression Ladder: Early Reading

  • Early Phonics & Early Reading Pack | Preschool (3–4 Years)

  • Early Writing Purpose Mini Session Bank | Preschool (3–4 Years)

• Reception | 4–5 Years

  Reception Literacy provision should support children to apply phonics, enjoy reading, develop comprehension, write for meaningful purposes and build confidence as early readers and writers.

  • Phonics opportunities linked to taught sounds and words

  • Purposeful writing in role-play, investigation, construction and small world areas

  • Oral rehearsal before writing through talk, storytelling and sentence modelling

  • Story mapping, retelling and sequencing opportunities

  • Vocabulary-rich book areas linked to themes and interests

  • Writing invitations with real purposes, such as labels, signs, messages and lists

  • Adult-guided support for applying phonics within play

  • Opportunities to read and write outdoors and across provision

  • Fine motor and pencil control activities supporting writing fluency

  Related Guidance:

  • Reception Continuous Provision – Structure & Rationale

  • Universal Continuous Provision Pack (Areas listed below)

    • Construction

    • Creative

    • Investigation / Discovery

    • Maths

    • Reading

    • Role Play / Small World

    • Malleable / Sensory

    • Writing

  • Outdoor Continuous Provision (Reception)

  • Adult-Guided Learning in Provision

  • Fine Motor & Physical Development | Foundations for Writing in Reception (4–5 Years)

  • Reception Early Writing Purpose Pack | 4–5 Years

  • Phonics in Reception: Teaching, Application & Inclusion

  • Reception Optional Theme-Based High-Impact Question & Vocabulary Banks

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions About EYFS Literacy

• What is Literacy in the EYFS?

  Literacy is one of the specific areas of learning within the EYFS. It includes comprehension, word reading and writing.

• Why is Literacy important in early years?

  Literacy supports children’s communication, imagination, vocabulary, early reading, writing, comprehension and confidence as learners.

• How can practitioners support Literacy in continuous provision?

  Practitioners can support Literacy through story-rich environments, meaningful mark-making, role-play writing, phonics application, book areas, labels, signs and adult modelling.

• What are examples of Literacy activities in Reception?

  Examples include phonics games, story retelling, writing labels and lists, reading simple words, oral rehearsal, sentence writing, book talk and writing for real purposes in provision.

• What is Phase 1 phonics?

  Phase 1 phonics focuses on early listening, sound discrimination, rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, oral blending and phonological awareness before formal phonics teaching.

• How does mark-making support early writing?

  Mark-making helps children understand that marks can carry meaning. It also supports hand control, confidence, communication and the foundations for writing.

• Why is fine motor development important for Literacy?

  Fine motor development supports the hand strength, control and coordination children need for using tools, making marks and developing writing confidence.

• How can role-play support Literacy?

  Role-play gives children meaningful reasons to read, write, talk, label, make lists, use signs and explore print within imaginative contexts.

• How can settings support children who are not ready to write?

  Settings can support children through large-scale mark-making, sensory play, fine motor activities, oral storytelling, shared writing and meaningful low-pressure writing opportunities.

• How should Reception phonics link with continuous provision?

  Reception phonics should be taught systematically and then applied through meaningful opportunities in play, adult interaction, reading, writing and provision-based activities.

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🧰 Additional ‘Literacy’ Tools & Guidance

When considering the support you provide for ‘Literacy’ within your setting, you may find resources on the following pages useful.

🌈 EYFS Printable Resources & Guidance for Additional Areas of Learning

Prime Areas of Learning

These areas are particularly important for building foundations in communication, wellbeing and physical development.

• Communication and Language

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development

Specific Areas of Learning

These areas build on and strengthen the prime areas as children grow and develop.

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Additional Curriculum Collections on Little Owls Resources

These collections support learning across multiple EYFS areas and are commonly used alongside the statutory framework.

• Phonics

• STEM

• Science

• History

• Phonics

More ways to search on ‘Little Owls Resources’…

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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.