It’s so important that we debate, discuss and tease out the role of observations in early years best practice in light of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters guidance. As well as some marked omissions within the documents, the terminology has also changed, so it is worth examining what impact that might have on our thinking about the practice of observation.
Neither the revised framework nor the guidance spells out how the traditional well-respected method of observation (observe, assess and plan – OAP) should underpin best practice in the early years.
The adopter version of the EYFS does still refer to practitioners’ ‘day-to-day observations about children’s progress’; however, the importance of observation is made less explicit.
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
Already have an account? Sign in here