Year 1 Child Led Play Planning

Year 1 Child-Led Play Planning Opportunities

Planning for child-led play can feel impossible because we cannot predict where children’s ideas, interests and play will take them. What we can plan is an environment rich in opportunities for learning.

This set of 10 Year 1 planning documents has been created to help teachers see where curriculum learning can happen naturally through children’s play. Covering a range of curriculum areas, each guide gives practical examples of the opportunities that can emerge when children have access to carefully considered spaces, resources and experiences.

These are not adult-planned enhancements or activities. They are designed specifically to support teachers in planning the continuous provision environment so that children can explore, investigate, create, talk, problem-solve and apply their learning independently.

Every cohort is different, and provision should develop as your children develop. Use these documents as a starting point to help you plan the environment, notice the learning and move it forward without taking ownership of the play away from the child.

Perfect for schools introducing or developing continuous provision and play-based learning in Year 1.