Responding to the Individual Child: Now What?

This chapter explores the Now What? stage of the observation, assessment and planning cycle. This is the crucial point where insights about a child are transformed into intentional next steps. Far from being a generic plan, this stage is deeply personal, responding directly to the child’s interests, strengths and developmental priorities. Educators are guided to move beyond planning activities towards planning for learning, which primarily focuses on the adult’s role: offering experiences, preparing environments, modelling language and knowing when to step in or step back. Practical steps are provided to help practitioners craft simple yet purposeful plans that elevate involvement and support wellbeing, ensuring deep-level learning can flourish. Using a child’s case study, the chapter illustrates how reflective planning honours what has been learned about the child and closes the observation, assessment and planning cycle.