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Many of us have a separate space within our setting designated for mark making and writing opportunities. This might act as a central space for children to collect their mark making equipment from and take into an area of provision. Over the years I have had this as part of my classroom set up in both nursery and reception classrooms. I always think it's important to reflect on this area and decide if it's working for you and your cohort. If it's taking up a a large space and no-one is ever at it, consider removing it. 

Here is a list of some of my favourite continuous provision for this area obviously this will vary depending on the age and stage of the children you have):

• Pencils
• Crayons
• Chalks
• Whiteboards
• Paper (different colours, types sizes, lined, unlined, squared)
• Envelopes (of different sizes)
• Alphabet books
• Name cards
• Stamps
• Notebooks
• Card
• Wipeable boards
• Home made books (zig zag books)
• Crayon rocks
• Bark pencils
• Ink stampers
• Gell pens
• Charcoal
• Sand pap...

Telling stories always gives me that higgle feeling of joy and being cosy. 

My book recommendations 

• How to Catch a Star 
• Four Seasons in One Day 
• The Snowman 
• Lost Words 
• I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree - A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year: National Trust 

Classic books 

• Not now Bernard 
• Where the wild things are 
• Hansel and Gretel 
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 
• Gruffalo 
• Bear Hunt 
• Little Red Riding Hood 
• Dear Zoo 
• Mr Gumpys Outing 
• Whatever Next 
• Peace at Last

Ideas to support practice 

• Get outside to story tell 
• Listen to music and move to the story it creates (Four Seasons in One Day) 
• Tell a story with just props 
• Tell a story in the forest 
• Tell a story with a torch in the dark 
• Tell a story through movement (Going on a Bear Hunt) 
• Link your small world area to a story. 
• Hold a bedtime story night (Think Pjs, Hot chocolate, a roaring fire on the smartboard and a cosy atmosphere) 
• Use nature to make story
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1. Consider your culture 

• We want to make learning so irresistible that they can’t  wait to start exploring 
• these key skills. The way we set up our learning environment plays an important 
• part in this. It helps to shape the culture we are trying to promote for our children. 
• Take a look at your provision and consider the following questions; 
• Have your Literacy displays turned into wallpaper that goes unnoticed? 
• Do children often struggle to find their favourite book because you have so many 
• out? 
• Have you offered cosy spaces to sit and share books? 
• Are children having to hunt to find a pencil to write their name on their painting? 
• Do you as an adult label children’s work? 
• Are your books often shoved back into the book case and look tatty?

Consider your role when it comes to promoting Literacy skills. 

• Are your guided and focus Literacy sessions only organised inside? Perhaps giving 
• off the message that Literacy only happens inside. 
• Are childre
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