Features

EYFS Training Part 3: Observation - Understand what you are seeing

It's not enough to just watch and record what a child does at play. Mary Evans considers how to make observation true to its purpose.

Effective delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage depends upon practitioners being skilled at making observations that recognise the significance of what the children are doing.

While the term 'observation' is widely used now in the sector, not everyone appreciates the difference between watching a child playing and seeing what he is doing. And until they do, they will not be able to gain a clear understanding of an individual child's interests and achievements.

A visit to Reggio Emilia prompted Bali Pallan, the teacher in the under-threes room at Greenfields Children's Centre, Southall, London, to attend a course at the renowned Pen Green Research Base on developing ways of documenting children's learning.

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