Nursery observation for a 2 year old 'working towards'. What does that mean? Behind?

[sharingzoe]

My 2 years and 1 month old goes to nursery 2 days a week. He's been in his new room since the beginning of January only.

I got his observation through today, and it's all 'working towards' with a couple of 'on tracks'.

He doesn't really speak at nursery, and doesn't like touching wet paint but apart from that I don't know why he wouldn't be 'on track' for everything. He can count to two and he puts two works together often/has around 50/75 words that he uses. His elder brother had slightly delayed speech so we've got some experience with speech therapy etc. I haven't been at all worried about my second until receiving this observation.

Seems a bit harsh to be honest.

Can someone have a read and a sense check?

I had similar, I reached out to a friend to calm down then I spoke to nursery and they were very reassuring. If they thought there was a real problem they would be asking you in for a meeting, not just sending messages through an app. They really won't mind you asking questions.

I wouldn't be worried about his progress, it's not university. There are lots of spelling mistakes from the staff though.

Yes indeed he is two, so why is he being 'marked down' for not liking paint?

Because ‘painting’ is obviously something with a box to be ticked, probably under ‘creativity’. The minute anyone sees him
dip a finger in paint and smear it on a handy piece of paper, be sure the tick will be in that box before you can say ‘Picasso’!

As an early years worker "working towards" is positive. It means either we haven't seen them doing these things consistently or confidently enough to say on track. It's not a negative or a bad thing.

This us the reason my nursery doesn't show levels ( red Amber or greens (this is kept hidden from parents and only staff can see it) our observations are positive and talk about what they are doing what skills they have learned and what support was needed.

For the (very) few children for whom genuine long-lasting problems are discovered as a result of early years targets, reports and grading in nursery, there must be thousands of parents wondering why their child is failing already

I hate these things and I believe the new guidance is not to mark a child in this way. We stopped with 'tracking' around 2020. This approach is extremely damaging and not helpful for parents. The development markers actually go from birth to 3, 3-4, Reception. So it would be very difficult to decide a 2 year old isn't meeting a 'target' because they don't even exist in the current guidance. We do a 2 year check where we work but it is basically to highlight what they can do, and where to go next, unless there is a very significant concern eg. No communication. Many children talk fluently a bit later but still communicate in other ways.

Anyway, don't worry OP. Your child sounds fine. You could encourage more messy play at home, as it is a really important way to learn. But if that's all, then that's fine.

I would focus on building his communication. Create a language rich environment, lots of conversation, new words, songs, reading, experiences. Reduce any screen time if he’s having any. I know lots will jump on me for saying this, but it’s true. There are so many children with mild language delays that it’s seen as normal. Everyone will say “oh my one didn’t talk until X age”. But around now or very soon I’d be expecting him to be saying 3 or 4 words together. Lots do not, but that doesn’t really mean anything. You’ll know as you’ve had SALT intervention before but the earlier these things are picked up the better.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying he has language delay but is maybe not quite where he should be and that will effect the other areas of the nurseries assessment.

His key worker is Greek! English isn't her first language!

I would focus on building his communication. Create a language rich environment, lots of conversation, new words, songs, reading, experiences.

Already do. There's nothing wrong with his speech.

He's not being marked down it's just the way the document the staff use in schools and nurseries is structured. There are different steps in development in every area of learning and when they achieve one they start working towards the next. It's not a test they pass or fail so don't worry about it.

Sorry I wasn’t implying you don’t. But as you said he’s only putting 2 words together at home and not really speaking at nursery I thought I’d make some suggestions.
If he’s able to follow simple instructions, 2 part instructions with no visual cues, respond to questions, enjoys playing games with you etc then I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.

Not to mention all the staff spending time ticking boxes instead of meaningful interaction with the children.

In Scotland we get things about rights of the child which I prefer to this as it's not ranking children. I really like his nursery. But like previous people have said it sounds like they have to do that on England and Wales.

Sometimes we have to read between the lines a bit though

He seems ok
But potentially not liking paint on hands can be a sensory issue

In terms of language whilst he maybe on track plus new to the environment
He is being compared to kids (maybe girls) who spoke words by 1 and had thousands by 18m and 4-5 word sentences.

Its like this through education my eldest was clearly able at maths but by y6 sats still not getting exceeded prediction - she got 113 (/120). Because her whole year did well.

But nursery do flag issues whether they fully realise or not.
Dc1 has likely asd and
Used to plug the nursery sink and flood it
Leaving at 4 to start school still wouldnt hold pencil grip (she still wont at 12....)
Yet could have ticked off all but read and writing of the reception curriculum (was only 4y0) could read cvc words etc.

Also counting would be higher than 2 and i assume means actual objects (which some can do at 18m)

Not doing it consistently yet but getting there is how I interpret it. Like you say he doesn't speak much at nursery yet but CAN talk so he is working towards it.

The obsession with messy play, finger painting etc is weird.

I don't like touching paint and my eldest will only do it now he's older.

I really don't care if he doesn't want to touch wet paint, it's cold and not very nice.

Total Ofsted required meaningless rubbish!! Just ignore.
I wish Ofsted were 'working towards' ceasing to exist and making report writers' (and readers') lives a pointless misery.

Wish I could opt out.

I was a nursery teacher for a while - “working towards” will mean they haven’t observed him doing it, not that he can’t. Also, if he doesn’t talk at nursery it can be very difficult for him to be marked as “on track.”

For example in mark making one of the tick boxes is “Does a child assign meaning to the marks they make?” If a child doesn’t talk, they may know they have drawn a fire engine but not communicate that with their key worker and so their key worker can’t tick the box. I’m sure once he gains confidence and starts talking at nursery he will jump up to “on track.”

These are part of the early learning goals which he has until reception is over to 'meet" so he won't meet some of these until then. Just don't give it any more thought. Government nonsense. He's doing fine.

What a depressing checklist to measure a two-year-old against. It's a tick-box exercise. Trust your instinct: you had no worries before this landed. Your instinct is a much more valuable measure.

To get support in place if they are delayed. To know what areas parents and school can focus on and what they child's strengths are too use those.

I'm very pro monitoring of children and warly intervention if required.

Many parents don't know enough about child development to know his their child is doing or what is typical.

I may be a bit out of date with this as I have not worked in early years for a while.
The early years foundation stage consisted of a number of goals at different levels that children were hoped to have achieved by the end of the reception year.
At the age of 2 many of the children would still have been working towards these goals at the first level.
This report is likely to be as much for guiding staff in working with your child as for telling you how he is doing.
I would not be worried at this stage.

Assuming they're working in the 22-30month section of the eyfs.
He's 25 months so at the younger end. I'd expect him to be "working towards " in most categories, he has another 5 months before the end of that one and even then there's an overlap and all children won't be achieving everything as its general.
Honestly from that report I'd say he's doing fine from that report and it was written very caringly.

I feel sorry for the staff of nurseries having to produce this nonsense!