A simple, practical planning system for Early Years settings that want to spend less time producing paperwork and more time actually noticing children.
The Archetype Approach Planning Pack helps practitioners move from:
What is this child doing? → What might be developing? → What could we offer next?
Rather than filling plans with activities for the sake of planning, the resources encourage practitioners to notice children's interests, strengths, patterns and emerging needs — then respond with meaningful opportunities.
The pack also introduces the Archetype Approach and the Axes of Balance, giving staff a simple way of thinking about what a child may need when behaviour, play or development becomes stuck.
Designed to be flexible. Use it as it is, adapt it to your existing planning, or use individual resources alongside the systems you already have.
What's included
Child Next Step Planning Sheet
A simple one-page approach to identifying meaningful next steps and deciding how adults, environments and experiences can support them.
Archetype Overview
An accessible introduction to the twelve Archetypes, helping practitioners notice different patterns of attention, energy, relationship and play.
Planning Through Balance Guide
A one-page practitioner prompt showing the six Axes of Balance and practical experiences that can be offered when a child becomes stuck strongly at one end of an axis.
All resources are supplied digitally through a Dropbox download link, so they can be saved, printed and used within your setting.
Optional Planning Wheel Display Poster
Take the planning system into your staff room or planning area with the Archetype Approach Annual Planning Wheel.
The large square display is designed for adding your own labels throughout the year and gives staff an ongoing visual bank of ideas organised through seven coloured learning cycles, seasonal rhythm and the world beyond the setting.
It isn't a fixed curriculum or a list of things children must experience.
It is a living planning display — something staff can return to when they need inspiration, while keeping children's learning connected to season, place, community and the natural world.
 
Display Poster Sizes to Choose from: 
1 metre × 1 metre
1.2 metres × 1.2 metres
1.5 metres × 1.5 metres