Assessment 2013/14

Using the New Curriculum

As you must be well aware, assessment in the Early Years is a challenge now that they have change the curriculum. At a recent course run by our LEA, we met with other practitioners and it seems that everyone is doing something different, but basically the same.

There are many types of observations that is common in every setting:

• Photographs
• Quick observations as would appear on a postit or a magic moment
• Catch as You Can observations
• Small group observations
• Large group observations

It’s not until you look specifically at the assessment sheets that you see the differences.

The priority for every setting is showing progress.

Maths is Everywhere!

Not Just in Maths Lessons

When children struggle with recognising numbers in the classroom I always ask parents to do number walks with their children because maths is everywhere!

This is the Maths is Everywhere display I have at school. I use it to illustrate that there are lots of everyday items that have numbers on them. There are always opportunities to share counting and number recognition with children.

It is incredible how prevalent numbers are in our every day environment.

As the collage shows, there are numbers on our every day objects such as house phones and mobile phones, computer keyboards, street signs, television remote controls and even television channels.

Watches and clocks obviously have numbers on them, but also car number plates and microwave controls.

Receipts, train and bus tickets, measuring tapes, bathroom scales and kitchen scales all use numbers, as well as the labels in clothes. I didn’t include house numbers on my collage but they are an easy one to spot as children walk to school, as well as bus numbers!

You could ask the children to do a number walk and see what numbers they can spot! The higher the numbers they can see, the more points they get! The children can count up the points and find out who is the winner!

Newspapers pt 2

The Second Lesson

To find the resources for this lesson and the first part of the lesson click here.

Resources

• Digital cameras
• Interviewer notes
• Reporter notes
• Press badges

Introduction

Some Useful EYFS Documentation

This page will contain links to the documentation which is used in the current (2012 - 2013) EYFS. 

Obviously this page will be updated if the documentation is updated yet again! 

• Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage
  This document is the main document from which you will take targets to put in your planning. While you must also ensure children have a well rounded education, these are the targets through which you will start lesson plans.
  Remember you don't need to stick to the 40 - 60 months targets if you are in Reception. Some Reception children may not yet be working at a 40 - 60 months level so you will need to have links to lower targets. If you are very lucky, you may have some children working on the year one 'I Can' statements so don't feel constrained to these targets. 
• Assessment and Reporting Results
  This documentation will inform your foundation stage setting about assessment and reporting these assessment results to parents.

• Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
  An excellent document for those who haven't worked in the Early Years before. It's not too long and highlights the purpose of the Early Years. In the previous document they did detail how much child-initiated time there should be in your day, but this updated version seems to have missed that bit out.

• EYFS Progress Check at 2 Years
  If you have some SEN children in your setting, this document is good for identifying their individual needs. It can also be adapted for older children.
  It is also useful for parents of younger children how want to check their child is on track.

• Parents' Guide to the EYFS
  If you find that some parents don't think the EYFS is an important stage in their child's education, you could supply them with this document. It is also useful for any parents who would like to know more about the Early Years Foundation Stage. Supplied by 4children.