Why Is It Important To Consider When Observing Children

An observation takes place when practitioners watch the children who are within their care and take notes of what they see or hear. Observations help identify individual children’s needs in order for them to be met. Taking regular observations of children help practitioners discover children’s interests as well as new skills and abilities. Similarly, observations give professionals the chance to monitor children’s progress and plan next steps to further children’s development.
Main reasons for observation:
-Record any behaviour for concern
-Identify abilities and difficulties
-Monitor progress and development
-Helps practitioners plan for children
-Gain information to report to parents

There are many reasons as to why it is important for practitioners to observe children. It becomes one of the most important aspects of day to day practice as it provides professional with a lot of information regarding children. By completing observations it makes children the centre of provision and helps meet all of their needs.
Children’s needs and interests
It is important for children to be observed within every child care setting as it can provide practitioners with a lot of information regarding children. Through observations professionals may notice that certain children need support which can then be put
Practitioners will review children’s interests, development and progress in order to form a report. This type of assessment is useful for long term planning as it will show an overall understanding of a child. The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is an example of a Summative assessment as it is taken when the child is age 5 in order to review their development before they move up to year 1 at school. The EYFS framework also requires that children have a two year old check in order to assess their development, this is also an example of a summative