access to observation records from childcare provider

[homelesshedgehog]

Sorry for cross posting - have asked this of the lovely nursery topic people elsewhere on the board , but I thought that those of you who work as CMs might also have some direct experience from the other side.

LO is at nursery at the moment. When we looked around we had read a bit about the EYFS, and the manager talked about the observations that they are meant to undertake on a regular basis to review development etc. Since I know that they are meant to be keeping records, am I supposed to have access to them, or have them discussed with me? We've been with them for a number of months now, and nothing has ever been said.

LO is meant to be 'moving up' a room in the summer (when the older children go to school in September) and I've been told that this will happen, assuming that the right 'developmental targets' have been met. Presumably the devil is in the detail of the observations and whether they think LO is 'ready'. But since nobody discusses the observations / EYFS with me, there could be something pretty basic that LO is not doing to tick the right box that we don't know about.

Can I request to see the papers? Does the nursery have to hand them over? Do I need to give notice? I don't want to seem like I'm questioning their judgement, but at the same time, I'd like to know what that judgement is! Do you discuss observations with the parents of your 'mindees'?

You might find that it is very simple observations I know my observation book at my nursery had a checklist and all I had to write was "J filled a cup full of water and pretended to drink it" in a box marked uses everyday actions in role play.

Yes you can ask to see his development file/observations whenever and ask for a meeting with the room leader to discuss his progress.

And I don't think your lo wil be held back from the next room if he hasn't fulfilled his targets as firstly that is discrimination and 2nd there will not be any targets to meet, they will just move them up to ensure the room is full and they have space in the current room for other children moving up the nursery or new children.

Yes you can request to see them, although like medical records it's normally at a time and date to suit both parties, and you wouldn't be able to take away originals.

They should have something available for service users to this end, how to go about it, so just ask

Thank you. I don't expect that there will be a daily essay on LOs achievements, but I might as well ask to see what they are seeing on a day to day basis. If it turns out that nursery and home are working to a different pattern, it would be good to know.
J filled a cup of water and pretended to drink it? Well done J. In our case, it would be 'and tipped it over the head of an unsuspecting fellow attendee'

As a childminder each child has a learning journey in which I put any pictures, drawings or crafts they have done (if the children want to) and my observations. At the end of the month this file goes home for the parents to look through and add any comments or take any artwork out if they wanted. At the end of every term I write an assessment of the child and send the whole file home again and encourage parents to comment.

The whole point of the EYFS is to observe, plan for and assess the childs progress/interests but also to work in partnership with parents.

You should also have the opportunity to see what LO does when he is not with you, that LO does not do when with you (and to state your case about things done at home, but not with them).

It is not a box ticking exercise

My parents see theirs whenever they want & we have a formal talk once a term

Mind you my parents add to their children's folder (I send forms home) & there is a form for them to comment on the folder which they can access at any time