EYFS Planning

Practical, developmentally appropriate planning support for babies, toddlers, preschool and reception.


Planning in the Early Years looks different at every stage of development. It is not about creating activities or tracking outcomes — it is about supporting adults to respond, provide and teach in ways that meet children’s needs.

This hub brings together our full range of EYFS planning support, including:

  • age-specific planning guidance

  • curriculum and pedagogy documents

  • practical templates and tools

  • continuous provision resources and idea banks


Browse our page or go directly to the planning resources you require using the text links below:

EYFS Curriculum Planning & Guidance Materials

Explore Planning by Age & Setting

What Does ‘Planning’ Mean in the EYFS?

EYFS Planning Tools & Templates

Continuous Provision & Environment Planning

Themes, Topics & Idea Banks

Areas of Learning Resources

In-the-Moment Planning & Observation

SEND & Inclusive Planning in the EYFS

Timetables & Daily Routines

Seasonal Planning & Key Dates

A Final Note on Planning

EYFS Terminology Glossary

Additional EYFS Framework Support Materials

Further Support

Explore Planning by Age & Setting

Start by selecting the age or setting most relevant to you. Each page brings together curriculum guidance, planning tools and practical resources tailored to that stage or setting:

 
 

Planning for Babies | 0–18 Months

Care, routines and interaction as the curriculum

Explore Baby Planning

 

Planning for Toddlers | 18–36 Months

Observation-led planning, schemas and exploration

Explore Toddler Planning

 

Planning for Preschool (3–4 Years)

Play, language and skill development

Explore Preschool Planning

 

Planning for Reception (4–5 Years)

Curriculum, teaching and school readiness

Explore Reception Planning

 

EYFS Planning for Childminders (Birth–5)

Planning tools & guidance to support mixed-age care

Explore Childminder Planning

 

EYFS Planning for Nurseries (Birth–5)

Practical, flexible approach to planning across baby rooms, toddler rooms & preschool provision

Explore Nursery Planning

 

What Does ‘Planning’ Mean in the EYFS?

Planning in the Early Years is often misunderstood.

In high-quality EYFS practice:

  • planning supports adult thinking, not children’s performance

  • learning is driven by play, interaction and relationships

  • observation informs decisions — not pre-set activities

  • development is non-linear and individual

Planning may include:

  • adapting environments and provision

  • responding to children’s interests and needs

  • offering short, purposeful adult-led moments (where appropriate)

  • reflecting on what is working and what needs to change

 
 

A curriculum is more overarching and denotes what you want the children to learn in the time they are with you.

It must be based on the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, which gives you a basis that you can build on, through the 7 areas of learning.

You can decide how best to deliver those areas by creating a curriculum unique to your setting, providing activities and experiences that deliver those areas of learning.

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EYFS Planning Tools & Templates

For practitioners who use written planning as part of their reflection and organisation, we provide a range of flexible tools. These tools are designed to:

  • reduce workload

  • support consistency

  • strengthen practitioner confidence

  • Weekly planning templates | Age-Specific

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  • In-the-moment planning prompts | Age-Specific & Generic

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  • Observation templates, assessment reflection sheets aids & strength-based reports | Age-Specific

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  • Adult-led session planning templates & session banks (where developmentally appropriate) | Age-Specific

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  • Additional Blank Planning Templates | Generic Birth-5

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Continuous Provision & Environment Planning

The environment is a key part of planning in the EYFS.

Explore:

  • Continuous provision packs by area of learning

  • Environment setup guidance

  • Provision maps and audits

  • Enhancement ideas and resource lists

These resources help you:

  • create enabling environments

  • support independent exploration

  • respond to children’s interests through provision — not activities

  • Babies | Birth-18 Months

  • Toddlers | 18-36 Months

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  • Preschool | 3-4 Years

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  • Reception | 4-5 Years

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  • Childminder | Mixed Age Birth-5

  • Continuous Provision & Play Areas Printable Resource Hub - Coming Soon!

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Themes, Topics & Idea Banks

Themes and topics can be useful organisational tools — but they should never drive learning.

We provide:

  • Topic idea maps

  • Activity idea banks

  • Themed provision resources

  • Seasonal and celebration-based ideas

These are designed to:

  • support practitioner inspiration

  • enhance provision

  • provide shared contexts for play and talk

They should always be used:

  • flexibly

  • selectively

  • in response to children’s interests

—not as fixed plans to follow.

  • Toddlers | 18-36 Months

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  • Preschool | 3-4 Years

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  • Reception | 4-5 Years

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  • Themed Provision Resources | Birth-5

 
 
 

Role-Play Packs

Please use the arrows to the right of the carousel below to browse our role play pack resources. Alternatively, visit our ‘Role-Play Area’ page.

Theme Provision Pages

Please use the arrows to the right of the carousel below and select a theme to explore our continuous provision enhancement resources. Alternatively, visit our ‘Themes Menu Page’.

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Areas of Learning Resources

Browse resources organised by EYFS areas of learning on our hub pages linked below:

Prime Areas

Specific Areas

These can be used to:

  • support provision planning

  • extend learning in the moment

  • build staff understanding of development


Below are some additional overarching ‘Area of Learning’ resources. (For educational materials that address each of the 7 areas of learning individually, please visit the pages linked above or our ‘Areas of Learning Hub Page’.)

  • Area of Learning Guidance Materials

  • Development Matters Support Examples, Plus ELGs and Checkpoints

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In-the-Moment Planning & Observation

Effective EYFS planning happens in real time.

Explore:

  • In-the-moment planning packs

  • Observation prompts and templates

  • Responsive interaction guidance

These support practitioners to:

  • notice and interpret children’s behaviour

  • respond sensitively and appropriately

  • adapt provision and interaction in the moment

Please visit the following pages for Age-Specific In-the-Moment Responsive Planning Guidance & Templates:

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SEND & Inclusive Planning in the EYFS

Planning in the Early Years is always inclusive.

Children do not need separate plans to be included — they need environments, interactions and routines that adapt to them.

Inclusive planning in the EYFS means:

  • observing how each child communicates, engages and regulates

  • adapting provision before increasing adult direction

  • responding to sensory, communication and emotional needs

  • working closely with families and other professionals

  • noticing patterns over time and responding early

Support may include:

  • adjusting the environment (noise, layout, resources)

  • adapting adult interaction and language

  • providing additional consistency and reassurance

  • offering alternative ways to engage and communicate

SEND support in the EYFS is:

  • relational

  • preventative

  • responsive

—not based on labels, targets or separate activities.

Please visit the following pages for Age-Specific SEND & Inclusion Planning Guidance & Tools:

  • SEND & Inclusion Hub - Coming Soon!

In the meantime, related printable resources may be found on the following pages:

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Timetables & Daily Routines

Daily structure supports both children and adults.

We provide:

  • visual timetables

  • routine planning tools

  • daily flow examples

These help you:

  • create predictable, calm environments

  • support transitions

  • maintain flexibility within structure

  • Babies (Birth-18 Months) | Care As Curriculum & Daily Routines As Learning Opportunities

  • Timetables & Routines Printable Resources | Birth - 5

To view all of our printable provision resources, please visit our ‘Timetables & Routines’ Hub Page.

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Seasonal Planning & Key Dates

The following resources can help you to support:

  • cultural awareness

  • inclusive practice

  • meaningful shared experiences

  • Special Dates Calendars (Free) | Festivals, Celebrations & Awareness Dates

  • Festivals & Celebrations Provision Pages

Please use the arrows to the right of the carousel below and select a festival to explore our continuous provision enhancement resources. Alternatively, visit our ‘Festivals & Celebrations Menu Page’.

  • Seasonal Themes

Visit the following Seasonal Hub Pages to explore relevant sub-themes and resources.

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A Final Note on Planning

High-quality EYFS planning is:

flexible

responsive

rooted in relationships

guided by observation

It looks different in every room — and that is exactly how it should be.

Our resources are designed to support your professional judgement — not replace it.

This webpage and documents within it are provided as professional guidance to support effective EYFS practice. They do not replace the EYFS Statutory Framework or other statutory guidance. Practitioners must apply professional judgement and adapt practice to their setting and current requirements.

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