Children develop and learn best when their environment is tailored to their individual needs, supported through careful observation, informed assessment and dynamic planning – a cycle which is the bedrock of good early years practice. Although the EYFS recommends that observation, assessment and planning should be linked in a constant, cyclical process, in practice this can be a significant challenge. This book presents an integrated framework which puts the cycle into practical terms, bringing it all together to ensure a seamless process and to support you in this vital part of your work. The focus is on the critical links within the cycle and combines theory with proven good practice, including: Making and recording observations effectively and efficiently How observations should inform next steps, assessment and planning Bringing all the information together into a cyclical process Exploring potential challenges Using reflective practice to refine and improve your techniques Rich in practical examples and case studies that illustrate how the cyclical framework works in practice, this is an excellent resource for early years practitioners and students looking to improve their observation, assessment and planning techniques. “Observation, Assessment and Planning in the Early Years – Bringing it All Together, actually does bring it all together. Kathy Brodie has linked theorists from the past to the present, skilfully connecting to the revised EYFS. Early Years students and practitioners will have the opportunity to reflect on the innovative ideas that she has suggested. Kathy has also included detailed information on observing SEN children. This modern update to observation, assessment and planning is a must read for the early years sector.” Laura Henry, Managing Director, Childcare Consultancy “This is a very well researched and practical guide to observation, planning and assessment in the Early Years. Kathy has collected together both historical and current thinking and ideas around the subject and then presented them in a way that is easy for the reader to access, understand and, more importantly, apply. The structure and format of the book helps the reader to check their understanding of the key learning points and then supports them in working through any challenges that they may have along with answers to key questions. Observation, Planning and Assessment in the Early Years is an essential read for all Early Years Practitioners from those with experience to those just starting out.” Alistair Bryce-Clegg, Early Years Consultant “This is a wonderful and timely resource to help practitioners make and use well informed judgements of young children’s learning and achievement. The four threads of observation, assessment, next steps and planning are skilfully woven together. Plentiful exemplifications and case studies vividly illustrate theoretical points and give young children a central place in the book.” Marion Dowling, Early Years Specialist and Vice President of Early Education

What is meant by high quality observation in the early years? How do you devise effective next steps for young children that build on their interests? How do you ensure that you meet the needs of all the children in your care? Offering a fresh approach, this practical toolkit offers a complete guide to observation, planning and assessment in the early years. It clearly explains the principles of good practice in this area and provides training tools to help practitioners develop their knowledge and skills and embed these principles into their setting. The focus throughout is on helping practitioners to create their own systems for observation, planning and assessment that are appropriate for the children they work with. All the material in the book has been fully tried, tested and proven to work and the methods described can be tailored to meet the needs of individual practitioners. Featuring a wide range of case studies to illustrate how the principles work in practice, the book includes: Making effective observations and assessments Recognising the characteristics of effective learning Ways to engage parents in their children’s learning How to identify next steps and learning priorities Dealing with barriers and maintaining quality over time With fully photocopiable resources throughout and including downloadable training sessions to accompany the book, this is an essential toolkit for all early years managers, leaders and those involved in setting support.

This title is designed to help early years practitioners in any setting understand clearly and precisely how to best plan for and observe learning in the early years. This title covers all the key aspects of planning and observing that affect those in practice, including how to: Assess and observe children, Put children at the heart of your planning, Link observation to planning, Plan for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This title also includes printable/photocopiable forms for you to use to structure your own planning and observations with, and help you to put the best practice examples in this book directly into practice.

This practical text supports early years students and practitioners to build confidence in planning for learning across all stages of the EYFS and in the many different contexts in which it is delivered.

Readings for Reflective Teaching in Early Education is a unique portable library of exceptional readings drawing together seminal extracts and contemporary literature from international sources from books and journals to support both initial study and extended career-long professionalism for early years practitioners. Introductions to each reading highlight the key issues explored and explain the status of classic works. This book, along with the core text and associated website, draw upon the work of Andrew Pollard, former Director of the TLRP, and the work of many years of accumulated understanding of generations of early years practitioners, primary school teachers and educationalists. Readings for Reflective Teaching in Early Education, the core text, Reflective Teaching in Early Education, and the website, provide a fully integrated set of resources promoting the expertise of early years professionals. The associated website, www.reflectiveteaching.co.uk offers supplementary resources including reflective activities, research briefings and advice on further readings. It also features a glossary of educational terms, links to useful websites and showcases examples of excellent research and practice. This book forms part of the Reflective Teaching series, edited by Andrew Pollard and Amy Pollard, offering support for reflective practice in early, primary, secondary, further, vocational, university and adult sectors of education.

This book is a concise and accessible guide to observation as a tool for supporting learning for children aged 0 - 5. It provides comprehensive coverage of the what, why, and how of observation, brought to life with extensive case studies and contextualised alongside other crucial Early Years’ topics, including child development and play. This book encourages readers to consider their own context and practice, with reflective questions at the end of each chapter and specific chapters on linking observations to the curriculum and sharing insights with parents and colleagues. The focus on both learning and self-reflection makes ‘Observing Learning in Early Childhood’ ideal for students, newly qualified teachers, and current practitioners alike. Dr. Stella Louis is a freelance early years consultant, with 34 years’ experience of working with children and families across the UK, South Africa and Australia.

If you are an Early Years Teacher Trainee, this book is written for you. It will help you to successfully achieve your Early Years Teacher Status and practice with confidence. This book guides you through what you need to know about Early Years Teacher Status step-by-step. It explains how you can work to meet each of the Standards and assessment requirements. The author addresses trainees’ common concerns about early years practice, study skills and meeting EYTS requirements, as well as giving many examples of the strategies that trainees found most helpful. The chapters explore each aspect of every Standard and indicator, with notes on theory, practical tips, case studies, activities and suggestions for further reading. This book helps you to: • understand all aspects of each Standard and indicator; • link your practice to the Standards; • understand the assessment requirements and how to strengthen your evidence; • plan and track your evidence; • complete your written assignments and create your portfolio with confidence; • develop the skills needed to take on a leadership role. This book also provides support for the mentor-mentee relationship and includes guidance for mentors, teaching activities for tutors and support for assessors. This book is a valuable resource for all those involved in EYTS and will be useful for: - EYTS trainees - their mentors - their placement tutors - course lecturers - EYTS assessors