Starting with the child

• Observe children to find out about their needs, what they are interested in and what they can do.
• Note children's responses in different situations.
• Analyse your observations and highlight children's achievements or their need for further support.
• Involve parents as part of the ongoing observation and assessment process.

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Planning

• Planning can be for the long-/medium-term and can show how the Principles of the EYFS will be put into practice.
• Some planning will be short-term – for a week or a day and will show how you will support each child's learning and development.
• This planning always follows the same pattern – observe, analyse, and use what you have found out about the children in your group so that you plan for the next steps in their learning.

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Assessment

• Assessments are the decisions you make using what you have observed about a child's development and/or learning.
• One type of assessment, often referred to as assessment for learning or formative assessment, is what you do every day when you observe children and note their interests or abilities.
• Another type of assessment is used to give a summary of a child's achievements at a particular point in time so that their progress can be tracked. This is known as summative assessment. The EYFS Profile is a summative assessment of each child's achievement at the end of the EYFS.
• You may be involved in contributing to the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for a child who has additional needs. The CAF is a standardised assessment which gives a full picture of a child's additional needs at any stage. It includes information from the child and their parents and covers all aspects of a child's development including health, education and social development.

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Effective practice

• When you are planning remember that children learn from everything, even things you haven't planned for – such as a fall of snow.
• Plan to observe as part of the daily routine.
• Analyse your observations to help you plan 'what next' for individuals and groups of children.
• Develop records of learning and development.
• Ensure that parents have regular opportunities to add to records.

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Challenges and dilemmas

• Ensuring flexibility in planning for the group, while keeping a focus on children's individual and present learning needs, or interests and achievements.
• Planning time for regular observations of children who attend the setting on an irregular basis.
• Involving parents in contributing to the observation, assessment and planning cycle when they are already busy.
• Creating records that are clear and accessible to everybody who needs to see them.

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Reflecting on practice

It is important to consider all the factors that affect children's development and learning.

• Are the views of parents and practitioners reflected in children's records?
• Do you review the environment and the resources after each session?
• Do you think about which children were involved in different activities and use this information to plan further?

Video

Documenting learning — In a nursery class, a practitioner and an artist in residence, talk about their observations and how they document children's learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Observing and making notes — In the outdoor space of a reception class, the practitioner makes observations of individual children's development and learning. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.