Creating an Observation

The Observation form has been designed to save you time by speeding-up the process of recording observations.

The Observation form has been split into 5 sections:

1. Section 1: Observation Details
   
2. Section 2: Learning (EYFS)
   
3. Section 3: Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL)
   
4. Section 4: Leuven Scales of Wellbeing & Involvement
   
5. Section 5: Next Steps
   

The only part of the Observation form which must be completed is Section 1; all other sections of the form are optional and can be completed when you have time.

To create an observation for one child, do the following:

1.  On the Observations Menu, click/tap on the 'Get Started' button on the Create Observation tile. Select the child you wish to create an observation for and click/tap on the 'Save' button. Refer to Selecting Children for an Observation for help with this. 
    This will open the Observation form.
   
   
   
   
2.  Select the observation date; the field will automatically show today's date but you can backdate the observation if necessary.
   
3.  Select the observation type; you will be able to choose between an 'Adult-led Activity' or 'Child-initiated Activity'.
   
   
   
   If you are recording an observation based on a carer's account of an activity or milestone which took place at home, you can select 'Home Observation' as the observation type.
   
   
4.  Enter a description of what you observed.
    If you are using a device with a microphone, you are able to enter the description using voice-input. 
   Please be aware that this may not be 100% accurate and is based on your device's ability to translate your voice into text.
   
   
5.  In the 'Photos & Videos' section you are able to capture a photo or video using the device's camera or upload any photo or video which has been saved to the device. 
    Accepted file formats are: JPG, PNG, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV and MP4.
   
   
   
   For each photo/video uploaded you are able to choose whether it is shared with the child's carers in Parent Portal by clicking/tapping on the toggle button.
   
   You are also able to edit and tag each photo you upload; please refer to the articles Photo Editing and Photo Tagging & Blurring for help with this.  
   
   
6.  At this point you can complete the observation by clicking/tapping on the arrow next to the 'Save and Continue' button and choosing the 'Complete Observation' option:
   
   
   Alternatively, you can create a draft, which you can finish later, by choosing the 'Save as Draft' option; or you can continue through the remaining sections of the form to apply EYFS links to the observation, enter the child's Characteristics of Effective Learning, set their levels of Wellbeing and Involvement and create their next steps.

Section 2: Learning (EYFS)

The 'Learning' section of the form is where you are able to select which EYFS areas were covered during the observation.

1.  To link the observation to the EYFS, click/tap on an EYFS area button and then click/tap on the age band the child is working in to see the relevant Development Matter statements:
   
   
   
   
2.  For each of the statements you have observed, click/tap on 'E' to set the child's new level to 'Emerging', 'D' to set their new level to 'Developing' or 'S' to set their new level to 'Secure'. You will be able to see the level the child was last observed at to help you make a more informed decision about what their new level should be. For example:
   
   
   
   If you have not observed the child demonstrating one or more of the matters in the selected age band, you do not need to select the 'E', 'D', or 'S' buttons. 
   
   
3.  If you need some examples on how to support a child progress with any of the Development Matter statements, simply click/tap on the text to display the 'Support Examples' window:
   
   
   
   
4. Once you have finished applying EYFS levels you can complete the observation by clicking/tapping on the arrow next to the 'Save and Continue' button and choosing the 'Complete Observation' option:
   
   
   
   
5. Alternatively, you can create a draft, which you can finish later, by choosing the 'Save as Draft' option; or you can continue through the remaining sections of the form to enter the child's Characteristics of Effective Learning, set their levels of Wellbeing and Involvement and create their next steps.

Section 3: Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL)

The CoEL section of the form is where you are able to select any Characteristics of Effective Learning you have seen the child demonstrate during the observation. 

1.  Click/tap on a CoEL area button. A list of statements will be displayed underneath, simply select the checkbox next to the relevant statements to add them to the observation.
2. If you need some examples on how to support a child progress with any of the Characteristics of Effective Learning, simply click/tap on the 'i' button to display the 'Support Examples' window:
   
   
   
   
3. Once you have finished selecting Characteristics of Effective Learning, you can complete the observation by clicking/tapping on the arrow next to the 'Save and Continue' button and choosing the 'Complete Observation' option:
   
   
   
   Alternatively, you can create a draft, which you can finish later, by choosing the 'Save as Draft' option; or you can continue through the remaining sections of the form to set their levels of Wellbeing and Involvement and create their next steps.

Section 4: Leuven Scales of Wellbeing & Involvement

The Leuven Scales section of the form is where you are able to set the child's levels of Wellbeing and Involvement.

If you do not track the Leuven Scales at your setting you are able to remove this section from the Observation form on the Settings page.

1. Click/tap on a number on the scale to set the child's level. 
   If you are not sure what each level represents, simply click/tap on the  buttons to view a description:
   
   
   
   If a child's levels of Wellbeing and Involvement have previously been observed, the scales will show the last set level; you can change these levels by simply clicking/tapping on a different number on each scale, or you can leave them set at the same levels.
   
   
2.  Once you have finished setting the child's levels of Wellbeing and Involvement, you can complete the observation by clicking/tapping on the arrow next to the 'Save and Continue' button and choosing the 'Complete Observation' option:
   
   
   Alternatively, you can create a draft, which you can finish later, by choosing the 'Save as Draft' option; or you can continue through to the last section of the form to create the child's next steps.
   

Section 5: Next Steps

The Next Steps section of the Observation form is where you are able to create next steps for the child based on what they have achieved during the current observation.

1.  If you would like to set a target completion date range for the child's next steps, select a date range. 
    This field can be left blank if there is no specific date range for the next steps to be worked on / completed by.
   
   
2.  Enter a description of the child's next steps.
   If you are using a device with a microphone you are able to enter the description using voice-input. 
   Please be aware that this may not be 100% accurate and is based on your device's ability to translate your voice into text.
   
   
3.  Click/tap on the EYFS area button which you would like to set next steps for; the lowest age band which the child is working in will be open by default.
4. For each development matter statement you can see the level the child was last observed at (Last Observed), along with the level you have set in the Learning section of this observation (New Level); this will help you to make an informed decision about what their next steps should be.
   
   
   
   
5.  The 'Planned Level' column is where to select the level you want the child to work towards. Click/tap on the 'E' button to set the child's next step as Emerging, 'D' to set their next step as Developing, or 'S' to set their next step as Secure.
   
   Please note: You will not be able to set a next step at a level which is lower than the child's 'New Level' or 'Last Observed' level e.g. if a child's New Level is set as 'Developing' you will not be able to create a 'Planned Level' of 'Emerging' as this level has already been achieved.
   
   
6. Once you have finished adding the child's next steps you can complete the observation by clicking/tapping on the 'Complete Observation' button:
   
   
   Alternatively, you can create a draft, which you can finish later, by clicking/tapping on the arrow next to the 'Complete Observation' button and choosing the 'Save as Draft' option.

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