Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

Home › EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy › Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5 (Overview)

Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

A practical, research-informed toolkit for recognising schemas and responding through meaningful, child-led provision.

Download components of our ‘Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit’ Here:

• Schema Cards (definition, behaviours, age-related examples, enabling resources) ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• Schema Observation & Responsive Provision Planning Template (with fully completed example template) ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

Documents Updated: January 2026

Recommended next read Selection

Additional Whole-Setting Guidance | for Professional Members

Explore our whole-setting guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

• Curriculum & Pedagogy

  • Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement

  • EYFS from Birth to 5: Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

  • Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth-5): Curriculum Intent & Progression

  • Pedagogy Guidance Document

  • Speech & Language Development - Setting Statement

  • EYFS Inspection-Facing Summaries

• Early Years Schemas

  Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

  ↪ Schema Cards (definition, behaviours, age-related examples, enabling resources)

  ↪ Schema Observation & Responsive Provision Planning Template

• EYFS Setting Policies

  • EYFS Group Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ EYFS Setting Policy Folder Contents List

  • Childminder Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Childminder Assistant or Volunteer Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ Childminder Policy Folder Contents List

• EYFS Glossary

  EYFS Glossary

  ↪ Clear, practitioner-friendly explanations of key curriculum and pedagogy terms used throughout our guidance.

Looking for age-specific pathway documents?

Select the pathway that best reflects your role or the age group you work with. You do not need to use everything. (Some practitioners may use more than one pathway.)

Latest EYFS Articles & Practical Guides | From Our Blog

Stay informed, get expert advice, and find inspiration from our collection of articles and useful external resources, tailored specifically for EYFS practitioners. We regularly publish in-depth articles to support you with current best practices, regulatory changes, and fresh ideas.

Are you looking for a specific resource or document for your provision?

Use our 🔍 SEARCH Bar located at the top of every page.

Content within the EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Membership is provided as professional guidance and support. It reflects current understanding of the EYFS statutory framework, Development Matters and inspection expectations at the time of writing. Practitioners are responsible for applying professional judgement and ensuring practice aligns with current statutory requirements and their specific context.

Updated: January 2026

Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth–5): Curriculum Intent & Progression Document

Home › EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy › Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth–5): Curriculum Intent & Progression (Overview)

Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth–5) | Curriculum Intent & Progression Document

A cohesive, high-level overview of learning and development from birth to the end of the EYFS.

Download Document Here:

Document Updated: January 2026

Recommended next read Selection

Additional Whole-Setting Guidance | for Professional Members

Explore our whole-setting guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

• Curriculum & Pedagogy

  • Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement

  • EYFS from Birth to 5: Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

  • Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth-5): Curriculum Intent & Progression

  • Pedagogy Guidance Document

  • Speech & Language Development - Setting Statement

  • EYFS Inspection-Facing Summaries

• Early Years Schemas

  Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

  ↪ Schema Cards (definition, behaviours, age-related examples, enabling resources)

  ↪ Schema Observation & Responsive Provision Planning Template

• EYFS Setting Policies

  • EYFS Group Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ EYFS Setting Policy Folder Contents List

  • Childminder Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Childminder Assistant or Volunteer Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ Childminder Policy Folder Contents List

• EYFS Glossary

  EYFS Glossary

  ↪ Clear, practitioner-friendly explanations of key curriculum and pedagogy terms used throughout our guidance.

Looking for age-specific pathway documents?

Select the pathway that best reflects your role or the age group you work with. You do not need to use everything. (Some practitioners may use more than one pathway.)

Latest EYFS Articles & Practical Guides | From Our Blog

Stay informed, get expert advice, and find inspiration from our collection of articles and useful external resources, tailored specifically for EYFS practitioners. We regularly publish in-depth articles to support you with current best practices, regulatory changes, and fresh ideas.

Are you looking for a specific resource or document for your provision?

Use our 🔍 SEARCH Bar located at the top of every page.

Content within the EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Membership is provided as professional guidance and support. It reflects current understanding of the EYFS statutory framework, Development Matters and inspection expectations at the time of writing. Practitioners are responsible for applying professional judgement and ensuring practice aligns with current statutory requirements and their specific context.

Updated: January 2026

EYFS Nursery & Preschool Setting Policies Pack | Birth-5 Documents

Home › EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy › EYFS Setting Policies Pack | Birth-5 Documents (Overview)

EYFS Setting Policies Pack | Birth-5 Documents

A complete, professionally written set of core EYFS policies supporting safe, compliant and high-quality early years practice.

Download EYFS Setting Policy Documents Here:

• 1. Safeguarding & Child Protection ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 2. Observation, Assessment & Planning ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 3. Curriculum & Pedagogy ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 4. Behaviour, Relationships & Emotional Wellbeing ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 5. Inclusion, Equality & SEND ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 6. Health, Safety & Risk Assessment ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 7. Data Protection & GDPR ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 8. Staffing, Ratios & Key Person ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 9. Physical Intervention & Positive Handling ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 10. Intimate Care ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 11. Supervision of Children ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 12. Mobile Phones, Cameras & Social Media ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 13. Medication & Medical Conditions ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 14. Food, Drink & Allergy Management ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 15. Complaints Procedure ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 16. Accident, Incident & First Aid ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 17. Missing Child / Uncollected Child ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 18. Outings & Trips ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 19. Whistleblowing ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 20. Staff Conduct, Safer Recruitment & Induction ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 21. Fire Safety & Emergency Evacuation ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• 22. Visitors & Security ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

The pack also includes:

• Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

• EYFS Setting Policy Folder Contents List ⋙ DOCX 📝 | PDF 📄

Documents Updated: January 2026

Disclaimer Notice

These policies are provided as professionally written guidance to support Early Years settings in meeting their statutory duties and embedding high-quality practice in line with the EYFS Statutory Framework and associated legislation.

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current requirements at the time of publication, this Policies Pack is intended to be adopted, adapted and implemented in accordance with each setting’s specific context, local authority guidance and regulatory requirements.

It remains the responsibility of the setting’s registered provider, leadership team and designated safeguarding leads to:

• Ensure policies reflect their individual setting, cohort and operational arrangements

• Keep policies up to date with changes to legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures

• Implement policies consistently through staff training, supervision and monitoring

These documents are designed to support professional judgement, not replace statutory guidance, legal advice, or the requirements of regulatory bodies such as Ofsted, local safeguarding partnerships or health authorities.

By using this Policies Pack, settings acknowledge that policies must be reviewed regularly and contextualised to ensure they remain accurate, effective and compliant.

Recommended next read Selection

Additional Whole-Setting Guidance | for Professional Members

Explore our whole-setting guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

• Curriculum & Pedagogy

  • Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement

  • EYFS from Birth to 5: Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

  • Whole-Setting Curriculum Map (Birth-5): Curriculum Intent & Progression

  • Pedagogy Guidance Document

  • Speech & Language Development - Setting Statement

  • EYFS Inspection-Facing Summaries

• Early Years Schemas

  Early Years Schemas - Practitioner Toolkit | EYFS Birth-5

  ↪ Schema Cards (definition, behaviours, age-related examples, enabling resources)

  ↪ Schema Observation & Responsive Provision Planning Template

• EYFS Setting Policies

  • EYFS Group Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ EYFS Setting Policy Folder Contents List

  • Childminder Setting Policies Pack

    ↪ x 22 Policy Documents

    ↪ Childminder Assistant or Volunteer Policy Sign-Off and Confirmation Document

    ↪ Childminder Policy Folder Contents List

• EYFS Glossary

  EYFS Glossary

  ↪ Clear, practitioner-friendly explanations of key curriculum and pedagogy terms used throughout our guidance.

Looking for age-specific pathway documents?

Select the pathway that best reflects your role or the age group you work with. You do not need to use everything. (Some practitioners may use more than one pathway.)

Latest EYFS Articles & Practical Guides | From Our Blog

Stay informed, get expert advice, and find inspiration from our collection of articles and useful external resources, tailored specifically for EYFS practitioners. We regularly publish in-depth articles to support you with current best practices, regulatory changes, and fresh ideas.

Are you looking for a specific resource or document for your provision?

Use our 🔍 SEARCH Bar located at the top of every page.

Content within the EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Membership is provided as professional guidance and support. It reflects current understanding of the EYFS statutory framework, Development Matters and inspection expectations at the time of writing. Practitioners are responsible for applying professional judgement and ensuring practice aligns with current statutory requirements and their specific context.

Updated: January 2026