When you record an observation using the Revised EYFS 2021 frameworks, you will no longer be able to link the observation to a specific statement of development.

This change is in support of the ‘Development Matters’ and ‘Birth to 5 Matters’ guidance which both recommend moving away from a ‘tick list’ approach to observations, where statements were used to track children’s progress.

Many felt statements were used excessively and detrimentally. Both the Department for Education and Ofsted want to see practitioners spend less time recording assessments and collecting data from children’s observations and more time interacting with and supporting children.

This attempt to reduce the pressures and burdens of bureaucracy has been universally welcomed by practitioners, and here at Kinderly Together we too wholeheartedly support the idea of spending more time with the children and less time collecting unnecessary data.

When recording an observation, Kinderly Together now only asks you to reflect on whether you have any concerns about the child’s level of progress in that one area or aspect of learning, and how that translates into the types of action you should be taking:

Watch Maureen Hunt explain how you can still create observations and assessments under the revised EYFS without using statements in this short video (3m 24s).