Children's Journeys
The revised Early Years Foundation Stage issued in September 2021 required childcare settings to move away from paperwork to enable more time to be spent with the children. As a setting we still observe the children throughout their sessions with us and plan activities that help the children practice life skills they will need as they grow. We take into account their interests and introduce ideas that may be new to them when planning activities. Topics maybe used for the older children to provide activities and experiences. We welcome input from every parent about what their children likes and is doing outside the setting. This can be via a verbal conversation or email. This help us build a complete picture of each child.
When a child first starts at the setting, their key worker will spend a few sessions (around 20 hours) getting to know your child. The EYFS gives the key worker details of a child's expected development and certain checkpoints they should meet at different ages. The key worker will keep this information in mind for each of their key children and provide activities and experiences to help them reach these checkpoints.
Most children progress through nursery and pre-school without difficulty but some children may need more help and spending more time with the children than on paperwork allows us to identify these children.
We photograph the children whilst they take part in the activities and these photos are added to their 'Journey' on Famly, the app we use to communicate with parents/carers. These photos will normal just have a title but if there has been a conversation between children or the activity needs more explanation, more detail will be added.
Once a term your key worker will carry out an ECAT assessment. This assesses your child’s communication skills and gives you and us an understanding of whether they are on target, above or below what is expected of a child of their age. If they continue to be below target, we will then be able to discuss ways forward and start talking to outside agencies that would be able to assess and advise.
In between a child's 2nd and 3rd birthday, Ofsted requires us to carry out a formal check that often coincides with the Health Visitor's check. A discussion will take place between yourself and the key worker about what your child can do and anything they might need more help/practice with. A written report, produced on Famly, will then be written by the key worker.
Access to your child's Journey is still available after they leave Fizzy Fish, but as a curtesy, we will download the journey for you and email it to you as a .pdf.
When a child first starts at the setting, their key worker will spend a few sessions (around 20 hours) getting to know your child. The EYFS gives the key worker details of a child's expected development and certain checkpoints they should meet at different ages. The key worker will keep this information in mind for each of their key children and provide activities and experiences to help them reach these checkpoints.
Most children progress through nursery and pre-school without difficulty but some children may need more help and spending more time with the children than on paperwork allows us to identify these children.
We photograph the children whilst they take part in the activities and these photos are added to their 'Journey' on Famly, the app we use to communicate with parents/carers. These photos will normal just have a title but if there has been a conversation between children or the activity needs more explanation, more detail will be added.
Once a term your key worker will carry out an ECAT assessment. This assesses your child’s communication skills and gives you and us an understanding of whether they are on target, above or below what is expected of a child of their age. If they continue to be below target, we will then be able to discuss ways forward and start talking to outside agencies that would be able to assess and advise.
In between a child's 2nd and 3rd birthday, Ofsted requires us to carry out a formal check that often coincides with the Health Visitor's check. A discussion will take place between yourself and the key worker about what your child can do and anything they might need more help/practice with. A written report, produced on Famly, will then be written by the key worker.
Access to your child's Journey is still available after they leave Fizzy Fish, but as a curtesy, we will download the journey for you and email it to you as a .pdf.