How To Use The Preschool (3-4 Years) Pathway

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(This pathway component is currently available to read on the web page below and will be available for download by: March 31st 2026)

How to Use the Preschool (3–4 Years) Pathway

Purpose of This Document

This document explains how to use the Preschool Pathway in practice.

It is designed to:

• support confident, consistent implementation

• help practitioners understand how the different parts fit together

• protect the pedagogy that underpins our Preschool approach

This document is not a checklist, timetable or script. It does not replace professional judgement, reflective practice or knowledge of the children.

Who This Pathway Is For

The Preschool Pathway supports:

• practitioners working directly with children aged 3–4

• room leaders and curriculum leads

• settings onboarding new staff

• leaders articulating curriculum intent, implementation and impact

It assumes:

• a play-based EYFS approach

• skilled adult interaction

• responsive planning grounded in observation

Our Starting Point: How Learning Happens in Preschool

In our Preschool:

• play remains the primary vehicle for learning

• adults guide, scaffold and extend learning through interaction

• children learn through talk, collaboration, imagination and repetition

Everything in this pathway exists to support these conditions, not replace them.

What Drives Practice Day to Day

When using this pathway, practice is guided by the following order of importance:

1. Children’s needs, interests and development

2. High-quality continuous provision (indoors and outdoors)

3. Skilled adult interaction and shared thinking

4. Purposeful adult-led teaching (used sparingly)

5. Observation, reflection and adaptation

No document, theme or session plan overrides what children show us they need.

How the Different Parts Work Together

Curriculum Overview & Maps

• Set the direction of learning across the year

• Ensure breadth, balance and progression

• Do not prescribe daily activities

Themes

• Create shared experiences and rich vocabulary

• Help organise ideas and resources

• Do not dictate continuous provision or outcomes

Continuous Provision

• The main driver of learning every day

• Carefully designed, stable and well-resourced

• Enhanced responsively based on observation

Adult-Led Teaching & Small Groups

• Used to introduce, revisit or deepen key ideas

• Brief, playful and purposeful

• Always feed back into play and provision

Observation, Assessment & Planning

• Observation informs provision and interaction

• Assessment is qualitative and proportionate

• Planning remains flexible and responsive

What a Typical Week Looks Like (Not a Timetable)

While no two weeks are the same, most weeks include:

• daily uninterrupted periods of child-initiated play

• continuous provision available indoors and outdoors

• adults observing, modelling language and extending thinking

• 2–4 short adult-led sessions (depending on cohort needs)

• ongoing reflection and small adjustments to provision

The focus is on patterns of practice, not fixed routines.

Using Adult-Led Sessions Well

Adult-led sessions are:

• short

• intentional

• responsive

• playful

They are used to:

• introduce new vocabulary or concepts

• revisit ideas children are exploring in play

• support specific learning needs

They should never:

• replace play

• dominate the daily routine

• become formal lessons

Observation, Planning and Progress

Observation is used to:

• understand children deeply

• notice interests, strengths and emerging needs

• inform adult interaction and provision

Planning:

• is flexible, not fixed

• responds to children, not paperwork

• supports adults rather than tracking children against targets

Progress is understood over time through:

• narrative observation

• professional discussion

• strength-based review

Inclusion and SEND

Inclusion is embedded across the pathway.

Practitioners:

• adapt environments and interactions

• prioritise communication and emotional regulation

• work closely with families and professionals

• use adult-led sessions and provision flexibly

Support is graduated and responsive, not label-driven.

Common Misinterpretations to Avoid

• Themes are not activity plans

• Progression ladders are not assessment checklists

• Adult-led sessions do not replace continuous provision

• Planning templates are tools, not expectations

• School readiness does not mean formal teaching

The pathway supports professional thinking — it does not remove it.

Where to Start: An Onboarding Guide

Week 1 Focus

• Preschool Pedagogy Position Statement

• Continuous Provision Packs

• Language, Interaction & Thinking guidance

Weeks 2–3 Focus

• Curriculum overview and themes

• Adult-led session banks

• Observation and assessment tools

Ongoing

• Reflect, adapt and revisit documents as needed

• Use professional discussion to support consistency

In Summary

This Preschool Pathway:

• keeps play at the centre

• supports progression without pressure

• values skilled adults and meaningful interaction

• aligns fully with the EYFS and Development Matters

Use it flexibly, thoughtfully and professionally — always in response to the children in front of you.

Document Updated: January 2026

(This pathway component is currently available to read on the web page above and will be available for download by: March 31st 2026)

Recommended next read Selection

Or read our ‘Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement’

Additional Documents | Professional Membership Contents (Preschool 3-4 Years)

Navigate our Curriculum & Pedagogy guidance documents here.

Pedagogical identity:
Broad, play-based, theme-led curriculum with purposeful adult input and strong continuous provision.

• 1. Welcome to Preschool (Start Here)

  👉 Pre-planning orientation.

  • Preschool Pedagogy Position Statement

  • Preschool Curriculum Overview & Rationale

  • Curriculum Overview: How Themes Fit Together (6 Main + 8 Mini)

  • What Child-Led Does Not Mean

  • Adult-Led With Purpose in Preschool

• 2. Preschool Curriculum & Progression

  👉 Big-picture curriculum intent and progression.

  • Preschool Curriculum Map (By Term)

  • Skills Progression Ladders (3–4 Years) - Including Practitioner Guidance

    ↪ Communication & Language

    ↪ Early Reading (Phase 1 Readiness)

    ↪ Early Writing

    ↪ Early Maths - Subitising, Counting & Comparing

    ↪ Early Maths - Pattern, Shape & Spatial Awareness

    ↪ PSED - Self-Regulation & Relationships

    ↪ Fine Motor & Hand Control

  • Strength-Based Progress Overview

  • Our Preschool Curriculum Intent, Implementation & Impact - OFSTED Conversation Statement

• 3. Preschool Themes & Medium-Term Planning

  👉 Theme-led planning lives here.

  • Curriculum Overview | How Themes Fit Together

  • Preschool Theme Packs – FAQs

  • How Practitioners Use This Curriculum Daily

  Core Preschool Themes (6 Weeks Each)

  • ‍Autumn 1: This Is Me

  • Autumn 2: Who Helps When…?

  • Spring 1: Journeys & Transport

  • Spring 2: Animals & Habitats

  • Summer 1: Growing & Changing

  • Summer 2: Water World

  Optional Mini-Themes (1–2 Weeks)

  • Space

  • Dinosaurs & the Mystery Egg

  • Pets & Vets

  • Building & Construction

  • Traditional Tales

  • Beaches & Coastlines

  • Healthy Bodies & Wellbeing

  • Celebrations Around the World

• 4. Continuous Provision in Preschool

  👉 The engine room of daily practice.

  • 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)

• 5. Adult-Led Teaching & Small Groups

  👉 Purposeful adult input without formalisation.

  Early Reading & Phonics

  • Phonics & Early Reading Pack

  • Phase 1, Vocabulary & Early Comprehension, Curriculum System (24 Sessions)

    • 8 themed sets covering all aspects of Phase 1

    • 24 mini session plans

    • Vocabulary & story-building scaffolds

    • Outdoor phonological play ideas

    • SEND & EAL accessible sessions

    • Theme-linked sessions (Transport, Animals, Growth)

    • Assessment & observation prompts

    • Continuous Provision follow-up suggestions

  • Adult-Led Session Templates

  • Practitioner FAQs

  Maths

  • Maths Small Group Session Bank (24 Sessions)

    • Strand A - Subitising (Sessions 1-4)

    • Strand B - Counting Principles (Sessions 5-8)

    • Strand C - Comparing Quantites (Sessions 9-12)

    • Strand D - Composition of Number (Sessions 13-16)

    • Strand E - Spatial & Shape (Sessions 17-20)

    • Strand F - Measures & Pattern (Sessions 21-24)

  • How To Use Our Maths Session Bank & Strand Overview (A–F)

  • Adult-Led Session Templates

  • Practitioner FAQs

  Writing & Fine Motor

  • Fine Motor & Mark Making Mini Sessions (18)

    • How To Use Our Fine Motor & Mark Making Mini Sessions Bank

    • Strand A - Core & Shoulder Stability (Sessions 1-3)

    • Strand B - Wrist Rotation & Fluidity (Sessions 4-6)

    • Strand C - Pincer, Pinch & Tool Control (Sessions 7-10)

    • Strand D - Early Pattern Making: Pre-Writing Shapes (Sessions 11-18)

  • Early Writing Purpose Mini Sessions (6)

    • How To Use Our Early Writing Purpose Mini Sessions Bank

    • Lists

    • Labels

    • Messages

    • Maps

    • Signs

    • Tickets & Recipes

  • How These Two Session Banks Are Designed To Work Together

• 6. Language, Interaction & Thinking

  👉 High-impact interaction guidance.

  • How We Talk to Children

  • Five Sentence Stems For Preschool Practitioners

  • If Interest Sparks — What Happens Next?

  • Preschool Staff Guidance Posters

• 7. Planning Tools & Templates

  👉 Practical planning support.

  • Weekly Planning Templates (2 Versions)

  • How to Use the Preschool Weekly Planning Templates: Guide

  • Adult-Led Session Planning Templates Pack

    • Universal

    • Phonics / Early Language Focus (Listening → Rhyme → Sound Awareness)

    • Maths Focus (Number + Pattern + Shape + Measure)

    • Story & Book Talk Focus (Comprehension → Retell → Vocabulary → Prediction)

    • PSED / Self-Regulation Small Group

• 8. Observation, Assessment & Reporting

  👉 Proportionate, non-statutory assessment.

  • Observe–Assess–Plan (OAP) Toolkit - Preschool

  • Assessment Dashboard Pack (3 Versions)

    • Prime Areas Only Dashboard (Communication & Language, PSED, Physical)

    • Full EYFS Areas Dashboard (Prime + Specific)

    • Dashboard with Wellbeing & Involvement Scale (Leuven-inspired 1–5 ratings)

  • Progress Review (3–4 Years)

    • Short & Long Versions

    • Guidance - How To Complete And Share With Families

  • Preschool Report Pack

    • End of Term Template

    • End of Year Template

    • Guidance - How To Write Strength-Based Reports

    • Sentence Starters Bank

• 9. Transition to Reception

  👉 Parent Engagement plus Emotional, environmental and communicative transition.

  • Preschool Transition to Reception Pack

    ↪ Child Passport

    ↪ Practitioner-To-Practitioner Handover Summary

    ↪ SEND Transition Sheet

    ↪ Family Transition Summary Sheet

    ↪ Parent Leaflet — “Preparing For Reception”

    ↪ Child Voice Page

    ↪ Guidance Page— “How To Complete & Share Transition Information”

  • Home & Setting Communication

    ↪ Our Preschool Curriculum (Age 3–4) | Parent-Facing Document

    (Additional parent literature within planning documents.)

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.

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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