Features

EYFS Best Practice: observation - A wider lens

Practitioners can use the Birth To 5 Matters guidance to help them produce their observations of children’s development and progress, explains Di Chilvers
Riley with key person Georgina (left) and manager Leanna Clark
Riley with key person Georgina (left) and manager Leanna Clark

Understanding children’s development and learning depends on our observations, how we make sense of what we have seen and how we use everything we know to make professionally informed decisions about their progress. The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework (2021) states that practitioners and teachers must ‘respond to day-to-day observations about children’s progress’ as ‘an integral part of the learning and development process’ and ‘know about children’s level of achievement and interests to shape teaching and learning’ through ‘drawing on their knowledge of the child – using own expert professional judgement’.

The Birth To 5 Matters guidance (2021) helps practitioners to make these important ‘professional judgements’ about children’s learning and progress by using the 6 Ranges and the overlapping age spans as a continuum of development. This Developmental Continuum (see diagram) becomes a guide or map to show a child’s unique learning journey from birth.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here