Meeting The Needs Of All Pupils Using Continuous Provision in KS2

Can Early Years-inspired practice help us meet the needs of all pupils in later phases?

TLDR: Yes.

Implementing a version of Continuous Provision in Key Stages 1 and 2 (and who knows? perhaps beyond) can help us to teach inclusively, ensuring that the needs of all are met: those working at greater depth, students broadly in line with average, children with significant learning gaps, those with a SEN or D, pupils who are working at GD AND have a SEN - EVERYONE.

Over on LinkedIn I've been writing about how flexible lesson design and flexible grouping support teachers with the tricky task of meeting the varying needs within their class(es). In Early Years settings we often see the ultimate examples of these two approaches.

See also:

Flexible Lesson Design: A Model for Responsiveness and the Release of Responsibility

Ditch The Lesson Plans; Try Learning Sequences

That free flow between indoors and outdoors, that range of learning environments and areas of provision, children making choices and adults - far from being guides on the side - EVERYWHERE WITH EVERYONE ALMOST ALL AT ONCE. Adults skilled in the art of sustained shared practice (SSP) - questioning, listening, deepening, noticing, probing, assessing, adjusting... the list goes on.

Set up your KS2 learning spaces (indoor and outdoor, classroom and corridor, playground and field) in such a way that allows the above to happen, get your KS2 staff into EY to see how it works, train them on SSP and eventually see how they do the 'dance of differentiation' (thanks to Dr Tom Porta for that lovely phrase).

I could write more (I have and I will) but that's enough for now.

I've taken this approach - it is possible (see here and here). There are other schools who are working on it. There are organisations like Early Excellence and people like me who can help you with it. If you're looking to revolutionise your approach to inclusion - have a serious think about this.

For more on the above, take a deep dive into my archive:

Case Study: Continuous Provision and EYFS-Inspired Practice in KS2

Case Study: Revolutionising Curriculum Delivery in KS2

Continuous Provision in KS2: FAQs

KS2 Continuous Provision: Ensuring Curriculum Coverage

KS2 Continuous Provision: Gradual Release of Responsibility

KS2 Continuous Provision, Flexible Lesson Design and Learning Sequences

Solving the Problem... of Progress and Independence in KS2 Continuous Provision

What Should Adults Be Doing When Children Are Working?

And if you're beginning to think this approach is for you, and more importantly, for the children in your school, but you know you'd benefit from my help, all you have to do is:

1. Drop me an email

2. We'll arrange a phone call

3. We'll get a date in the diary to work together