Monitoring to tailor learning experiences for every child
There has been a move away from collecting and analysing data and the associated tick lists. Instead, the focus is on careful curriculum design, depth of learning rather than coverage, and on your knowledge of each child.
To support this, we have introduced Flags, Reference Material, and an Areas of Concern screen.
There isn’t the option to tick statements for the various guidance (Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters). Instead, you can ‘flag’ observations that relate to specific EYFS Areas of Learning, ELGs, and Development Matters Checkpoints, as well as other descriptors e.g. Learning Behaviours, Motivation for Learning, and reasons to celebrate.
This creates a bank of observations to refer back to that can be sorted and selected as required. If you’re interested in the thinking behind this new system, take a look at Ben Case’s article – Development Matters for Early Adopters on Tapestry.
You will also be directed to relevant reference material which can help you with your observations. This includes the Development Matters statements, ELG statements, Checkpoints, and Birth to 5 Matters statements, but also a variety of other useful articles and videos which have been handpicked by our education team.
Our ‘Areas of Concern’ section allows you to easily refer to observations you’ve made for each child in each Area of Learning and record whether you have any concerns about their development and the provision you have put in place for them. This will help you to pick out the areas of your curriculum you need to give some more thought to and highlight which children might need a little more support from staff. You can also reflect on the children’s progress and record any thoughts or questions you have.
The timeline feature shows when a staff member has recorded judgements, whether that’s confirming that they have no concerns, saying that they do have concerns, or triggering a more in-depth review, perhaps with some assistance from a colleague or manager.
There are two versions of the ‘Areas of Concerns’ screen – the ‘group view’ version, which shows you lots of children at once or the ‘guided view’ which asks you to look at one child or Area of Learning at a time. In both you can easily see the relevant reflections and observations.
There is also a thoroughness screen. This allows you to quickly see if you’ve made fewer observations in specific areas or for specific children. It may be that you are expecting that because, for example, you haven’t covered much for those areas yet. However, if anything on that screen comes as a surprise, you should investigate whether that’s due to you not providing much in that area or if it’s because you/your staff aren’t writing much about that area. You can then ask yourself why and reflect on whether there is a need for a curriculum review or some CPD.
Our Education team have created some resources to help support you with the EYFS reforms. You can find powerpoint slides and a webinar recording on our EYFS in September 2021 with Tapestry page.
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