Chapter 1 · planning and evaluation
One big picture, many smaller plans
The overall plan closes out with the piece that explains why every other plan you’ll ever write at this nursery exists in the first place.
The rule
The whole picture, so every branch can build its own version
The overall plan must comprehensively present the full picture of childcare at the nursery, and must be created so that, through the guidance plans, health plans, nutrition education plans and other plans built on it, each nursery can carry out childcare with its own creativity and ingenuity.
But here’s the key
It’s a foundation, not a finished building
The overall plan isn’t meant to answer every question by itself. It’s meant to be broad and solid enough that your guidance plans, health plans and nutrition plans can each stand on it and still leave room for your nursery’s own creative approach underneath.
In real life
Tracing my weekly plan back up the chain
When I write a weekly guidance plan, I can point to the exact line in our overall plan it comes from. If I can’t, that’s usually a sign the activity is something I liked, not something the nursery’s plan actually called for — and I go back and rethink it.
A common misunderstanding
“More detail in the overall plan is always better.”
“The overall plan should spell out exactly what happens in every room, every day.”
“The overall plan should be complete enough to guide us, and open enough to still need our own judgment underneath it.”
Why this matters to you
With these three posts, you now have the whole shape of the overall plan: it exists, it’s built from your real families and neighbourhood, and it’s the foundation every smaller plan you write is supposed to connect back to. The next posts move into those smaller plans themselves.
Your turn
Can I trace my last activity plan back to a specific line in our overall plan?
If not, try tracing your next one before you write it.
About Bond Japan
NPO Bond Japan
Bond Japan connects international schools so they can learn from one another and deepen a shared understanding of early childhood education and care.
