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EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy for 🎨 Preschool (3-4 Years)

Broad, Play-Based Preschool Curriculum with Purposeful Adult Input


Who this pathway is for:

This pathway is designed for practitioners working with preschool-aged children. It supports settings to develop a coherent, play-based curriculum with a strong balance of child-initiated learning and adult-led teaching.

 

What you’ll find here:

  • Preschool curriculum frameworks and progression maps

  • Continuous provision guidance across indoor and outdoor areas

  • Adult-led and adult-guided teaching resources

  • Observation, assessment and next-steps tools

  • SEND and inclusion embedded throughout

“This pathway does not move practice towards formal schooling. It supports rich learning through play, interaction and purposeful teaching.”

Featured above: A selection of published documents within our '3-4 Years' pathway.

 

(Founding) Professional Membership Now Available

✨ Reduced introductory rate ✨

*Update* Almost all of our listed Curriculum & Pedagogy suite documents are now available. The remaining few will be published very shortly at no additional cost to Founding Members.




📌On this page you will find:

🌍 The Bigger Picture - Our EYFS Birth-5 Pedagogy (free)

🧭 Orienting Preschool Pathway Documents (free)

🎨 Preschool 3-4 years Pathway Contents:

  1. Welcome to Preschool (Start here)

  2. Preschool Curriculum & Progression

  3. Preschool Themes & Medium-Term Planning

  4. Continuous Provision in Preschool

  5. Adult-Led Teaching & Small Groups

  6. Language, Interaction & Thinking

  7. Planning Tools & Templates

  8. Observation, Assessment & Reporting

  9. Parent Partnership & Transition

🖼️ Additional Bigger Picture Birth-5 Guidance:

  1. Birth-5 Curriculum & Pedagogy

  2. Early Years Schemas

  3. Setting Policies

  4. EYFS Glossary

➕ Additional Information:

  • Links to our other Age-Specific Pathways

  • Membership Options

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🌍 The Bigger Picture: Understanding Our EYFS Birth - 5 Pedagogy

If you wish to first understand our wider EYFS birth-5 curriculum intent & pedagogy, please read the following free documents:

 
EYFS
EYFS from Birth to 5 | Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline
EYFS from Birth to 5 | Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline

Read more →
Little Owls Resources' Curriculum Intent Statement | Birth-5
Little Owls Resources' Curriculum Intent Statement | Birth-5

Our curriculum is designed to support high-quality Early Years practice by providing practitioners with clear, developmentally appropriate guidance and flexible, responsive planning tools from birth to five.

Read more →
 
 

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🧭 Preschool 3-4 Years - Orientation

(Full content accessed through Professional Membership with some free orienting samples.)

We suggest you start with our free orienting samples:

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

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

Read more →
Preschool Pedagogy Position Statement | 3-4 Years
Preschool Pedagogy Position Statement | 3-4 Years

How Children Learn in Preschool (3–4 Years)

Read more →
Preschool Curriculum Overview & Rationale | 3-4 Years
Preschool Curriculum Overview & Rationale | 3-4 Years

(Preschool | Ages 3–4 Years)

Read more →


Pedagogical identity:

“Broad, play-based curriculum with purposeful adult input and strong continuous provision.”

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🎨 Preschool 3-4 Years - Pathway Contents List

Below you will find listed the component documents of our ‘Preschool Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’. They are separated into Strands 1-9. You do not need to use everything all at once. Explore the sections below at your own pace.

You may use the addition symbols on the right of the accordion below to explore the documents within our Preschool Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite.

(Please note, Professional Membership enables access to all ‘Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’ pathways.)

 

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🖼️ Additional Bigger Picture Birth-5 Guidance (for Professional Members)

Explore our whole-setting birth-5 guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

 

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Looking for a different age group pathway?

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

Featured
🍼 Babies (0–18 months)
🍼 Babies (0–18 months)

Responsive care, observation and development in the earliest years

Read more →
🚼 Toddlers (18–36 months)
🚼 Toddlers (18–36 months)

Development, play and progression in the toddler years

Read more →
🎨 Preschool (3–4 years)
🎨 Preschool (3–4 years)

Curriculum, continuous provision and purposeful teaching

Read more →
🎓 Reception (4–5 years)
🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

Play-based pedagogy, progression and EYFSP readiness

Read more →
🏡 Childminders (Birth–5)
🏡 Childminders (Birth–5)

Mixed-age pedagogy, planning without overload and inspection confidence

Read more →
 

Membership Options

To find out more about Professional Membership and our other subscriptions, please visit our ‘Pricing’ page.

 

Alternatively, learn more about and explore our printable provision resources.

Thousands of ready-to-use printables to support provision, organisation, routines and learning across the EYFS.

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

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

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