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Illustration of a practitioner with two early years children, with a tablet next to him where he writes EYFS observations.

The Home of Effective EYFS Observations

Because observations in early years are important

Capture each child’s learning journey with quick and easy EYFS observations on the go.

Designed to inform your provision – capture photos and videos, write short notes, and add assessments without interrupting your engagement with children’s learning.

Try Tapestry Today

Try Tapestry’s EYFS Observations now and elevate your provision. EYFS Observations, and all of the Tapestry features, are included in every subscription. Start your no-obligation trial account today and see the benefits for yourself.
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EYFS observations your way

Whether you are celebrating learning together by making group observations, or you’re noticing an important milestone for an individual child, Tapestry has you covered. And if it’s a bit of both, you can split a group observation, adding additional notes, assessments or media for a specific child.
Illustration of an early years practitioner and a toddler looking at an EYFS observation on a tablet.

Impactful observations in early years

EYFS observations offer a window into children’s unique interests and development, enabling educators to make informed decisions that support each child’s learning journey. However you make it, the point of an observation is to have a direct, positive impact on the child.

Video observations and photos – without limits!

Upload unlimited media to your observations, meaning you can make the most of video clips to support your reflective practice, encourage children’s talk about their own learning, and share their experiences with families.

Device showing a video of children playing with shapes.
Illustration of a parent and their child baking at home.

Get families involved with parental observations

Gain insightful knowledge of every child with parental observations and celebrate together, wherever you are.

Build each child’s unique learning journey

Document your children’s learning in a way that supports your planning and provision. Identify each child’s interests and build bespoke learning pathways to enable them to thrive.
One of Tapestry's printed journals

Why are observations important in the early years?

While the EYFS 2021 reforms brought a much-welcomed relief in the pressures of documenting learning, observations remain a key tool to support educators in the planning and implementation of their provision for each child. Here’s how:

EYFS Observations as memory jogs

Simple notes or snapshots serve as valuable memory jogs, helping you feel confident discussing each child's progress.

Record and revisit children's achievements

Capture learning stories that celebrate milestones and build a richer picture of every child's development.

Support partnerships with parents and carers

Build positive, trusting relationships where parent and carer input is genuinely valued — enriching your knowledge of each child.

Share ideas for learning at home

Keep families engaged by sharing playful learning ideas, strengthening the home-setting connection to improve children's outcomes.

Enable positive transitions

Build shared team knowledge of every child, supporting smooth transitions between rooms, phases, and classes.

Grow your professional learning

Use video observations as discussion opportunities about child development and how children use their learning environment.

Nurture your team's development

Support less experienced team members as they observe and learn from the good practice of their colleagues.

Monitor children's progress to plan your provision

Identify interests, track progress, and adapt your provision — keeping intent, implementation, and impact clearly aligned.

EYFS observations and so much more

Online Learning Journals

Custom Curriculums

Child-centred Monitoring

PAAP

Bring movement and confidence into everyday learning

We’ve teamed up with Music + Movement, the creators of the award-winning Physical Activity Adventure Pack (PAAP), to bring this powerful resource straight into Tapestry.

Designed for Early Years and Reception, PAAP makes it easy to deliver engaging, high-quality physical development sessions that children love, while supporting key developmental goals.

With PAAP, you can:

  • Deliver fun, structured, and imaginative activity sessions
  • Build essential movement skills from the ground up
  • Boost children’s confidence and spatial awareness
  • Align physical development with EYFS and Development Matters

Start using PAAP in your account

  • Purchase the pack from the PAAP website.
  • Email PAAP@musicandmovement.org.uk to let them know you’d like to use PAAP in Tapestry
  • PAAP will liaise with us to activate your account
  • Start exploring and using PAAP in your ‘Activities’ area
PAAP Physical Activity Adventure Pack Logo

“First impressions were really positive. the kids loved the games and wanted to have lots of goes at certain roles. The cards were super easy to understand and put into action and I shared it with other members of the department to look at and they were blown away by it.”

– Ellis Denyer – Head of PE and Sport at Kinabalu International School, Sabah

Siren Films

We’re proud to collaborate with Siren Films, the award-winning video producers specialising in child development and early years practice.

Through this partnership, professionally filmed video content enhances the free-to-all-users feature Tapestry CPD, bringing real early years experiences and expertise closer to educators.

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ELGs framework icon

ELGs

Simplify end-of-EYFS assessment

Record ELG assessments directly in Tapestry and automatically generate the insights you need for reporting and reflection.

You can:

  • Assess children as Emerging or Expected
  • Automatically calculate Good Level of Development
  • Populate EYFSP submission data
  • View attainment instantly across your cohort
IEYC framework icon

IEYC

Support global best practice in early years education

Tapestry supports the International Early Years Curriculum, enabling enquiry-based learning and holistic development for children aged 2–5.

With IEYC integration you can:

  • Capture learning across all curriculum areas
  • Support play-based, enquiry-led experiences
  • Track development holistically
  • Align observations with international standards
Montessori framework icon

Montessori

Designed to support authentic Montessori practice

Tapestry includes a dedicated Montessori framework for recording and monitoring children’s progress, while also supporting settings that take a more flexible, philosophy-led approach to observation and assessment.

Whether you follow Montessori practice closely or blend its principles into your provision, Tapestry adapts to the way you work.

With Montessori on Tapestry you can:

  • Use a built-in Montessori framework to record assessments against activities
  • Monitor assessment counts for each child and activity
  • View activity coverage through clear monitoring screens
  • Capture child-led learning through flexible observations beyond the framework
  • Maintain authentic Montessori values while gaining meaningful oversight
National Curriculum framework icon

National Curriculum

Track progress your way

Tapestry’s built-in National Curriculum framework adapts to your school’s approach, helping you monitor attainment and progress with clarity.

Key features include:

  • Customisable Key Stage tiers
  • Maintained Achievement Points (MAPs)
  • Clear monitoring across attainment and achievement
  • Insight into absence and curriculum coverage
Development matters framework icon

Development Matters

Holistic assessment, built into your observations

Development Matters is included within Tapestry’s EYFS tools, helping you assess learning in a meaningful and manageable way.

Use it to:

  • Label observations holistically
  • Access supporting guidance as you assess
  • Monitor development through Areas of Concern
  • Identify gaps and adapt provision early
Birth to 5 Matters framework icon

Birth to Five Matters

Bring guidance into everyday practice

As proud sponsors of Birth to Five Matters, we’ve integrated the non-statutory guidance directly into Tapestry, making reflective assessment part of your normal workflow.

You can:

  • Flag observations using Birth to Five Matters areas
  • Access reference materials instantly
  • View developmental patterns across your setting
  • Plan provision informed by real insight
EYFS framework icon

EYFS

Support child development — without data overload

Tapestry’s EYFS flag system helps you focus on children, not data. Quickly link observations to areas of learning while accessing built-in reference materials to support confident professional judgement.

With EYFS on Tapestry you can:

  • Flag learning naturally as you observe
  • Access guidance exactly when you need it
  • Identify emerging needs using the Areas of Concern overview
  • Adapt provision with clarity and confidence

Anima Phonics

If you use Anima Phonics at your setting, you can upload their Phonics Framework as a Bespoke Framework to your Tapestry account.

To start monitoring Anima Phonics on Tapestry, simply contact them and ask them for their Phonics Framework as a CSV. Then you just need to follow these steps, and you’re good to go.

Contact Anima Phonics
Anima Phonics Logo
The Department for Education SEND Assessment Guidance

SEND assessment guidance and resources have been released by the Department for Education (DfE) to support those working in the EYFS. The guidance has been written in collaboration with the well-respected Dingley’s Promise and aims to support ‘a strengths based approach to assessing children’s needs’.

We have created a CSV that can be uploaded to Tapestry via our Bespoke Frameworks feature, so that you can easily integrate the SEND assessment guidance in your Tapestry account:

Download the CSV file
Guide to uploading the CSV file to Tapestry
Learn more about the DfE SEND Guidance on Tapestry
D of E Logo (SEND Guidance)

Move

The MOVE programme is an activity-based framework that enables disabled young people to gain independent sitting, standing, walking and transferring skills. If you use the programme, you can also enable a branch map that can be used with Cherry Garden.

Just get in touch with MOVE Eurpoe with your Tapestry account ID – they will be able to instruct us to turn it on for you.

Get in touch with MOVE Europe
MOVE Logo

Launchpad for Literacy

Launchpad for Literacy is a skills-based framework that helps settings build strong foundations for reading and writing. It breaks literacy down into small, progressive skills, making it easier to identify gaps and plan targeted support. Rather than being a programme to deliver, it guides everyday teaching to ensure children are ready for literacy success.

To order Launchpad for Literacy, you can email Kirstie Page directly using the button below.

Order Launchpad for Literacy
Launchpad for Literacy

Tapestry CPD

Tapestry CPD offers high-quality, flexible professional development for your team. Created in-house in collaboration with sector experts, courses cover a variety of topics from child development, to getting the most from Tapestry.

Certificates are available on completion, and everything is included as part of a Tapestry subscription.

Screenshot of Tapestry's CPD homepage, with an illustration of an educator at a laptop.

An example Reflection

The Early Years manager at Tapestry Primary School, Gabriel, has noticed issues with storing objects for loose parts play. He adds his thoughts to Tapestry as a reflection, and outlines what he hopes to achieve.

An illustration of an Early Years manager, Gabriel, adding a reflection to Tapestry.

His co-manager, Jules, thinks it would be great to get the children’s families involved, and comments on the reflection to say she’ll speak to the Head about sending out a letter to parents.

Comments from staff members on a Tapestry reflection.

Staff member Katie reports that after the letter is sent out, several parents have brought in some excellent repurposed items to use for Gabriel’s idea.

Tapestry Reflections are designed to be returned to as many times as needed – Gabriel, Katie and Jules can keep adding comments, and report on the impact once everything has come together!

Tapestry Reflections

The Reflections area of Tapestry is a structured, staff-only space for understanding the impact of your provision. You can add individual reflections to record thoughts about specific children, your practice, or even procedures within your setting. Capture notes individually or collaborate as a team to share insights, highlight strengths, and plan meaningful next steps for children and your school or setting.

Reflection talking about purchasing diverse and inclusive books for a setting, with comments from staff members agreeing and making suggestions.

Using Documents

Tapestry’s Documents feature gives you a secure, central space to store and share important files with families and staff. Whether it’s policies, forms, or helpful resources, everything is easy to organise and access when needed.

You can control who sees each document, with built-in virus scanning for added peace of mind.

Screenshot of Tapestry's Documents feature, showing the files and folders that can be used to organise documents.

Unlimited Media

Tapestry allows you to upload unlimited photos, videos, documents, and audio, making it easy to capture and share children’s learning in ways that feel natural and meaningful. Visual media helps bring observations to life, supporting understanding for all families, regardless of language or confidence with written communication.

With no limits, you can focus on what matters most – the moments themselves.

Device showing the media picker on Tapestry, showcasing the different media types you can add to Tapestry via the app.

By encouraging Family Observations

Tapestry allows relatives to add their own observations from home, helping you build a fuller picture of each child’s development. These moments offer valuable insight into a child’s interests, experiences, and achievements beyond the setting.

By involving families, you can create a more connected and meaningful view of each child’s learning.

Device showing an observation being uploaded by a family member on Tapestry.

Using Reports

With Tapestry’s Reports feature, you can choose from a range of ready-made templates or design your own using a flexible editor. This makes it easy to create reports that reflect your approach and your school or setting’s needs.

Reports can be shared with families, helping you communicate each child’s progress, development, and next steps clearly.

Screenshots of a report written on Tapestry, about a child's transition between age groups.

Using Messaging

Tapestry’s Messaging feature makes it easy to communicate directly with relatives in a secure, familiar environment. Whether it’s a quick update before the day begins or a follow-up afterwards, conversations stay clear, private, and easy to manage.

Device showing a messaging conversation with a parent on Tapestry.

Using Activities

With Tapestry’s Activities feature, staff can share ideas for learning at home, helping families stay connected to their child’s development. Activities can be simple, flexible, and easy to fit into everyday routines, making it easier for parents and carers to get involved.

Families can also respond with their own observations, supporting a more complete view of each child’s journey.

Device showing an activity linked to an observation.

Using Memos

Tapestry’s Memos feature allows staff to send messages to groups of relatives, making it easy to share announcements, reminders, and important updates in one place. Everything stays within Tapestry, helping communication remain clear, consistent, and easy to access.

Mobile device showing a Memo uploaded by a teacher, introducing himself to children and their families who are starting in his class soon.

Using Messaging

Tapestry’s Messaging feature allows you to communicate directly with individual staff members or relatives, keeping conversations private, secure, and easy to follow. It’s ideal for sharing updates, asking questions, or having more personal conversations about a child’s day.

Device showing a messaging conversation on Tapestry.

Using the Admin Toolkit

As part of Tapestry’s Admin Toolkit, you can transfer child profiles, together with their connected relatives, between Tapestry accounts. This ensures their learning journey continues smoothly, even as they move settings.

Alongside this, you can customise your account, schedule posts in advance, add unlimited staff and relatives, store unlimited data, and tailor notification settings to suit your team.

Photo of a laptop showing the modal for transferring children open.

Bring it all together

Each part of Tapestry strengthens the next. Use Memos to share reminders or keep everyone aligned for the week ahead. Follow up with Direct Messaging when a parent needs reassurance, a quick clarification, or a more personal conversation. Set Activities to extend learning beyond the classroom – whether it’s practising spellings, noticing maths in the real world, or encouraging creative thinking at home.
Laptop showing the Tapestry main login screen, surrounded by the icons for Observations, Assessments, Reflections, Care Diary, Management System, Invoicing, Activities and Memos.
Together, they keep communication clear, learning connected, and families involved in the everyday life of your classroom.

Bring it all together

Each feature on Tapestry supports the next. Observations capture the everyday moments of learning, with flags helping you highlight what matters as you go. If a child needs extra support, the Areas of Concern screen brings those flagged moments together so you can see everything in one place and from there, Reflections help you plan and record the actions you want to take.

Laptop showing the Tapestry main login screen, surrounded by the icons for Observations, Assessments, Reflections, Care Diary, Management System, Invoicing, Activities and Memos.

Together, they help you celebrate the small moments, notice emerging needs, and plan thoughtful support for every child.

Using Bespoke Frameworks

Build your own curriculum using a CSV file, ready to import into Tapestry. You can create your own areas, aspects, statements and scales, organise them into a structure that suits your setting, and assess against them in observations.

screenshot of importing a bespoke framework onto Tapestry.

Using Flags

Flags allow you to label an observation with specific points of reference, such as the EYFS areas, celebrations, or custom flags you have created. Once applied, these flags can be viewed and filtered for a specific child, or the whole setting, helping you quickly locate relevant observations.

Photo of a child with their educational practitioner, painting together in the classroom. Different Tapestry flags surround the photo, showing the areas of learning and celebrations tagged in the observation.

Using the Areas of Concern Screen

The Areas of Concern screen gives you one place to note where a child may need more support across the EYFS areas. Any observations you’ve flagged in those areas appear here automatically, making it easy to look back at what you’ve seen and what it relates to. You can also start reflections from this screen, helping you keep track of the support you’re planning, 

Screenshot of Tapestry's Areas of Concerns screen, with comments from a reflection that staff have started about a child.

Using Reflections

Use structured staff-only reflections to understand the impact of your provision. Make notes for yourself, or work as a team to share insights, highlight strengths, and plan meaningful next steps for children, or for your setting as a whole.

Reflection talking about purchasing diverse and inclusive books for a setting, with comments from staff members agreeing and making suggestions.

Using Tapestry’s Monitoring tools

Whether you’re using EYFS flags, working with specific frameworks, or building your own curriculum, Tapestry keeps everything in one place. Our monitoring screens give you a clear, holistic picture so you can celebrate strengths and plan for what comes next.

Selection of Tapestry's monitoring tools

Using Observations

Tapestry’s Observations feature allows you to capture photos, videos, notes, and audio in the moment. Add area flags and assessments, link other observations and activities, and build each child’s journal — then share updates with families with a single tap.

Device showing the observations list on Tapestry.