What and how do we celebrate? - Continuous Provision

In a continuous provision setting, celebrating birthdays is a joyful and inclusive event. To mark these special occasions, photos of children enjoying their celebrations are displayed, encapsulating the happiness and excitement of the day. The creation of handmade cards and decorations adds a personal touch to the festivities, allowing children to express their creativity and contribute to the celebratory atmosphere. A 'birthday box' filled with festive items is kept ready, enabling spontaneous role-play and enhancing the sense of occasion whenever a child's birthday is celebrated.

The provision also embraces the diversity of traditions and cultures when it comes to celebrations. For instance, the construction area might include images and models of buildings and places significant to various cultural festivities, along with items like domes, symbols, and coloured materials for creating stained glass effects. Small carpet samples can represent prayer mats, and neutral peg dolls are available for flexible use in role-play scenarios, ensuring that children can explore and celebrate a wide range of cultural practices, including marriage ceremonies, through imaginative play.

At the start of the academic year, a birthday wall is established to acknowledge individual birthdays, while being mindful of the varying cultural importance placed on such celebrations. Families are encouraged to share photos of their own celebrations to create a display or photo album that honours the uniqueness of each family's traditions. A timeline of the year is maintained, highlighting significant events such as Eid, Easter, Christmas, Holi, Diwali, birthdays, weddings, and christenings, ensuring that the diverse experiences of all children are represented and celebrated. This ongoing reflection allows children to see themselves and their cultures reflected in the classroom environment, fostering a sense of belonging and community.