Set up your resources and spaces carefully ensuring that you have a creative, enabling and inviting environment.
The way that you arrange your setting will be very individualised to your individual context. There is a wealth of research around space organisation such as research from Community Playthings . There is also research from Deirdre Grogan and Charlotte Bowes at the University of Strathclyde around environment design – The Zones Approach – which we have developed further training around and this can be delivered on request.
The way that you set up your resources in the spaces that you have is your “continuous Provision.” See below the rationale of an effective continuous provision (click on the link for an editable word document version)
We have also developed some planners for continuous provision, that can be a starting point and adapted for your own individual contexts.
Here is a video of Alistair Bryce-Clegg explaining Continuous Provision further in conversation: Reflect on this asking yourselves these questions:
- Do children use your current Continuous Provision meaningfully? Are they independent? Are there high levels of engagement?
- Does your current Continuous Provision encourage a range of learning across all curricular areas? (This can be supported by The Zones Approach)
- Are there appropriate resources for children at all levels to develop their skills? (we are developing a set of resources to support skills development in Continuous Provision – *stay tuned and watch this space!*)
- Is the environment attractive and accessible to the children?
- Do staff make time to carefully observe the learning and engagement that is taking place in all areas?
