Curriculum Confidence: Making Planning Work for You (Without the Overwhelm)

by Rebecca Butler

When you hear the word curriculum, do you ever feel that little wave of dread?
For lots of childminders, it conjures up visions of ring-binders, colour-coded charts, and hours sat at the laptop instead of actually being with the children.

But here’s the truth: your curriculum isn’t something you write, it’s something you live. It’s the experiences, routines, and opportunities you create every single day. And planning for it doesn’t have to feel like an extra job on top of everything else.

In fact, with the right mindset and a few clever strategies, planning can feel light-touch, meaningful, and, dare I say it - enjoyable.

What curriculum planning really means

At its heart, planning is simply answering three questions:

  1. What do the children in my care need right now?

  2. What experiences will help them get there?

  3. How will I know it’s working?

If you can answer those questions, even in conversation, you are already planning your curriculum.

Practical ways to keep planning simple (and effective)

Here are some ideas you can try straight away.

1. Plan through daily routines

Routines are gold dust for learning. Think about what’s already happening in your day and add a learning lens.

  • Snack time → maths (counting fruit, comparing sizes), independence (pouring drinks), language (juicy, crunchy, soft).

  • School runs → physical development (walking, climbing steps), communication (spotting numbers, letters, colours on the way).

  • Nappy changes → personal, social and emotional development (talking about feelings), language (naming body parts).

These don’t need to be written up - they’re intentional moments you can talk about confidently if asked.

2. Use loose themes as springboards

A theme like All About Me or Seasons gives you an anchor to hang activities from without being restrictive. For example:

  • All About Me → family drawings, body puzzles, measuring handprints, role-play birthdays.

  • Autumn → collecting leaves, baking apple muffins, making leaf crowns, exploring conkers.

Themes help show progression over time and make sure you’re covering a range of areas, but they should never box you in.

3. Set up “evergreen” invitations to play

Not every activity needs to be brand new. Some setups can live in your provision for weeks with tiny tweaks that keep them fresh.

Examples:

  • Small world town → add post office props one week, road signs the next.

  • Playdough station → switch cutters for natural materials, then for number stamps.

  • Block area → challenge cards (taller than your teddy, a bridge with two gaps).

By tweaking rather than reinventing, you save time and show progression naturally.

4. Think across ages in one activity

Most childminders have babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers together - so pick activities that flex:

  • Water play →

    • Babies: splashing, filling and emptying cups.

    • Toddlers: scooping, pouring, testing floating/sinking.

    • Pre-schoolers: measuring, adding food colouring, predicting outcomes.

One activity, three levels of learning. This not only makes life easier but also shows that you differentiate effectively.

5. Keep evidence light

You don’t need reams of notes. Instead, try:

  • A quick Friday reflection (3 bullets: what hooked them, what they learned, what’s next).

  • A photo + one sentence for each child, once or twice a week.

  • A whiteboard note in an area explaining your “why.”

This proves intentionality without eating up your evenings.

Curriculum Confidence During Ofsted Inspections

One of the most common worries before inspection is:
“What if they ask me what the children are learning?”

Here’s the reassuring part: inspectors aren’t looking for perfect, rehearsed answers. They just want to see that you:

  • Know the children well

  • Are intentional about your activities

  • Can explain the “why” behind your provision

Here are some examples you can adapt in your own words:

  • Messy play tray with oats and spoons
    “Right now the toddlers are building their fine motor control by scooping and pouring. It also supports early maths because we’re talking about ‘full’ and ‘empty’. I chose oats because they’re safe if mouthed, cheap to replace, and give a lovely sensory experience.”

  • Block building
    “They’re exploring balance and shape, and we’re introducing words like ‘taller’ and ‘shorter’. I set this up today because they’ve been showing lots of interest in towers, and it’s a great way to extend their thinking.”

  • Playdough bakery role play
    “This encourages fine motor skills through rolling and cutting, but also lots of imaginative language. They’re negotiating roles, which supports social development too. I added cupcake cases and pretend coins today to give them a fresh challenge.”

  • Storytime with ‘Dear Zoo’
    “This helps with sequencing and recall, as well as introducing new animal names. I chose this book because one of the children has just been to the zoo, so it links to their own experiences.”

If you can confidently link activity → learning → why you chose it, you’re showing exactly what inspectors want: clear curriculum intent and impact.

Example: A week of light-touch curriculum in action

Here’s how it might look without a single “formal plan” written down:

  • Monday: Den-building indoors. (Physical development, teamwork, language).

  • Tuesday: Fruit-tasting at snack. (Maths, PSED, language).

  • Wednesday: Autumn walk. (Understanding the World, gross motor, language).

  • Thursday: Playdough bakery. (Fine motor, maths, role play).

  • Friday: Favourite-story puppet show. (Literacy, creativity, confidence).

Each activity touches multiple EYFS areas. Each can be adapted for mixed ages. Each builds on what children love. That’s planning.

A helping hand when your brain is full

Of course, knowing this and having the headspace to do it are two different things. That’s where my September DIY Curriculum Box comes in.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • 4 detailed activity plans for every EYFS area of learning (28 in total), each one differentiated for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.

  • Extra ideas for sensory play, crafts, and outdoor learning.

  • 15 ready-to-use resources to support some of the activities, saving you time and effort.

And because September is the perfect time to start fresh, this month’s theme is All About Me.

It’s such a brilliant theme for September because:

  • Children are often settling in or returning after the summer - it helps them feel secure by focusing on themselves and their families.

  • It supports identity and belonging, which are key for building confidence in the early weeks.

  • It’s endlessly adaptable: babies can explore mirrors and family photos, toddlers can enjoy naming body parts and routines, and pre-schoolers can dive into self-portraits, measuring themselves, and talking about what makes them unique.

  • It gives you an easy way to link learning across all EYFS areas - from maths (measuring handprints) to literacy (name recognition) and understanding the world (celebrating similarities and differences).

So if you’d love to step into September with a bank of high-quality ideas, activities that work across ages, and ready-made resources that save you time - the DIY Curriculum Box has you covered.

It’s there to spark inspiration, give you confidence in your curriculum, and free up your evenings for something other than planning!

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