{"id":4239,"date":"2020-07-06T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-06T14:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/first-pen.localsite.io\/?p=4239"},"modified":"2024-10-31T11:52:28","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T11:52:28","slug":"the-importance-of-continuous-provision-in-the-early-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/the-importance-of-continuous-provision-in-the-early-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of continuous provision in the early years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In this blog, experienced early years adviser and Cornerstones Director, Melanie Moore, discusses why <\/em>continuous provision is so important for children\u2019s early development \u2013 and how to get it right.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most early years practitioners recognise continuous provision<\/a> as the resources they offer children as part of an enabling environment or the resources that are safe for children to explore independently. It is both these things, but it is important to remember that continuous provision is not just provision that is continually accessible; it is also a selection of resources that continue children\u2019s learning with or without an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As practitioners, it\u2019s essential to fully understand both what continuous provision is and how it helps support children\u2019s development. Crucially, effective continuous provision should provide children with the opportunity to demonstrate the characteristics of effective teaching and learning identified by the EYFS. For example, in the construction area, children may independently investigate how high they can build a tower by using wooden blocks. Trying to arrange the blocks in different ways or testing if they can add any other construction materials to their tower to make it sturdier, demonstrates aspects of both playing and exploring. Continuous provision also enables children to return to their explorations and consolidate their learning over the course of a day or a more extended period. When children do this, they can explore what happens to things as they change over time and make changes to explore new ideas. Continuous provision also allows children to make choices and initiate play without interaction with an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continuous provision transcends all areas of learning. When preparing your resources for continuous provision, you could try the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with continuous provision, the practitioner\u2019s role is crucial. It\u2019s important that you not only provide a high-quality environment but also support your children\u2019s ability to interact with the resources. When children engage with continuous provision, you can take the opportunity to interact with the children more, and not just make formal observations, which a is a key aspect of the new early years reforms. This is especially important, as your experience should then determine how the environment is enhanced at a later stage. Creating a well-oiled environment also means that practitioners need to establish rules, boundaries and behavioural expectations. Once children are clear about the rules and what\u2019s expected, they will then be able to carry out their explorations with an increased sense of confidence. If children do not know their boundaries, then they will often return to \u2018familiar\u2019 play, which is less challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, one of the most enjoyable things a practitioner can do is to play alongside the children. This helps to model language and ideas and will strengthen your relationship with the children you teach. It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions, extending the children\u2019s learning even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Observing children within the areas of continuous provision is still a crucial part of the practitioner\u2019s role. Through observations, you will be able to identify typical behaviours, interests and patterns of children\u2019s learning and development, which will have an impact on what you plan next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Download our observation checklist.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The continuous provision should be linked to the needs and interests of the children in your class. It needs to provide familiar areas for them to explore, so, for the most part, your continuous provision will stay the same, only to be enhanced as children\u2019s learning progresses. Rather than carrying out time-consuming and extensive planning for the continuous provision, I have always found it more useful to display a list of the resources that should be in each area of learning, which can be checked and replenished by an adult working in the setting. However, some schools do require teachers to show their planning for continuous provision, and, of course, if needed, you\u2019ll probably have to do it. You can also use task cards to suggest specific challenges that the children can complete alongside their free play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Download our continuous provision resource list.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If we want children to be creative, curious, and to pursue their interests, then we must make our environments appealing and plentiful. Children will disengage if resources are old, broken, or incomplete. And why wouldn\u2019t they? So would we. It\u2019s always worth setting aside or requesting a reasonably generous budget to renew resources<\/a> at the start of a financial year. I have always found it useful to send a list of things needed to parents and carers in the hope that some items will be donated or sourced from local businesses. The provided resource list outlines some of the basic resources needed to set out each area of learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have your continuous provision sorted, then you are in a perfect place to move on to enhancing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continuous and enhanced provision are key features of the Cornerstones EYFS Curriculum<\/a>. Housed on our online platform Maestro<\/a>, each of the engaging projects follows a clear skills and knowledge progression framework. They provide the perfect balance of directed activities, play-based learning, enhanced and continuous provision, and are perfectly aligned with all national guidance and requirements, including the revised Development Matters<\/a>, the revised early years curriculum framework<\/a> for England and the Curriculum for Wales<\/a> Nursery and Reception guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy is continuous provision important?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What does effective continuous provision look like?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
What is the adult\u2019s role in continuous provision?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What should a practitioner look for in their observations?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How should I plan for continuous provision?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Resourcing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Finally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Cornerstones can help you deliver outstanding early years provision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n