Teaching and classroom support
Morning routine cards
Arrange routine steps in a chosen order and use the Now, Next and Finished areas to make the current and upcoming step visible.
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Head of Pre-Prep and Reception teacher
Ruth Cadogan
Continuous provision gives children time to explore, while a clear focus on phonics and number helps us build foundational skills across the day.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I teach Reception and lead the Pre-Prep, supporting practice from Reception through Year 2. Continuous provision gives children time to explore, while a clear focus on phonics and number helps us build foundational skills across the day.
Children arrive with different experiences of nursery and school. I want routines to make the start of Reception welcoming while giving every child access to the same important learning. Adults can watch how children use a provision area, then decide whether to join, model or offer another question.
I look for resources that help combine play and explicit teaching without making them compete. A short phonics or number activity can sit within a wider sequence of talk, movement and exploration. I value planning that makes the learning purpose clear and gives teachers evidence to decide what children should try next. This keeps the aim age-appropriate.
How I approach a lesson
Balance continuous provision with explicit phonics and number.
Use observation to decide when to join or extend play.
Make routines welcoming for children with different prior experiences.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.
Maths
What comes next? Early-years number and pattern
Use spoken patterns and counted objects to predict what comes next and connect a quantity with its numeral.