What’s included in the Sorting and Comparing Groups to 20 Provision Enhancement Prompts and why is it useful?

EYFS Sorting and Comparing Groups to 20 Provision Enhancement Prompts is a set of challenge cards for practising sorting and comparing groups to 20 across your continuous provision. It covers these areas: Maths, Construction/STEM, Creative, Fine Motor, Home Corner, Malleable, Outdoor, Sand, Small World, Snack, Tuff Tray, Water and Writing.

Challenge Cards

Each card has a short challenge and a clear picture, such as “Sort the tools into the tool boxes.” or “Sort these boots. How are they the same?”

Advice and Ideas

Next to each pair of cards, the Advice and Ideas panel tells adults how to set up the activity and what to ask, from asking children to explain how they sorted to comparing the number in each set.

Example Activities

• Creative: sort the recycled materials
• Sand: sort the diggers into two sets
• Water: sort the gold coins and explain how

How do our Provision Enhancement Prompts work?

Print the pages, cut out the challenge cards for the areas you have, and put each one in a frame in the matching provision area. Then set out the resources listed in the Advice and Ideas panel. The cards can stay out all week, so children choose when to have a go, and any adult can use the questions to extend the learning.

Children can use the picture to work out what to do, or have the challenge read to them, and Reception children can have a go at reading the words themselves.

Most areas have two challenges, A and B, giving children two ways into the same learning. Put both out together or swap them over during the week.

The snack card needs adult supervision.

These cards work best alongside your teaching of sorting and comparing groups to 20. You could use them with our other EYFS comparing groups resources, so children meet the same learning in adult-led sessions and in their play.