Ofsted doesn’t recommend a specific approach to planning
It’s up to you to decide what approach to take, as long as you can justify it. This is set out in paragraph 16 of the Ofsted early years inspection handbook.
The EYFS framework (paragraph 1.18, page 17) states that when planning and guiding what pupils learn, you must reflect on the different rates at which pupils are developing, and adjust your practice appropriately.
Your planning should also cover the 7 areas of learning and development, as set out in the framework (under 'Educational Programmes', pages 9 to 11).
These are:
- Communication and language
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Physical development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
See our summary of the changes to the EYFS framework, effective from September 2021.
See some planning resources from a local authority
A curriculum planning sheet An example of medium-term planning An example of long-term
