A whole-setting development plan that gives clear direction, builds shared ownership, and improves outcomes for children.
Who is this for?
All early years practitioners – from apprentice to leader – especially room teams, room leads, and setting leaders who want a clear, lived development plan that everyone can explain and act on.
You will:
- Clarify the one or two priorities that matter most right now (not everything at once).
- Use simple evidence to choose priorities: observations of practice, children’s progress, staff feedback, parent views, and previous plans.
- Link priorities directly to children’s experiences and outcomes in the EYFS.
- Build the plan using Intent – Implementation – Impact so it’s easy to explain and track.
- Break priorities into clear actions: what will be done, who will do it, by when, and how success will be measured.
- Involve the whole team and review progress little and often (so the plan is lived, not filed).
What are the benefits?
A strong Child First Development Plan (CFDP) leads to:
- Clear direction that all staff know and understand.
- A more reflective team who make proactive changes for children.
- Shared ownership across the setting, regardless of role or experience.
- Planned, purposeful improvement (less reacting, more consistent quality).
- Stronger readiness for conversations with Ofsted around intent, implementation and impact.
Where can you seek help?
Email info@alwaysgrowing.co.uk with questions, or if you’d like tailored support to build or refresh your whole-setting CFDP with your team. Also, a powerful way to build momentum is to connect with a colleague or another early years professional to share ideas, keep the plan visible, and stay consistent.