Step 1 - From the Homepage select the child/children you want to record the observation/activity on. They will go blue in the selection, and it will show how many children you have chosen,

Step 2 - Select the L&D icon in 'New Activity'

Step 3 - Give the observation a name in the 'Title'

Step 4 - Update the Date & Time

Step 5 - Update Author if necessary (Admin Only)

Step 6 - Enter the observation description to include details about what the children have been learning about

Step 7 - Upload a photo and/or video of what you have observed, any work the child has done, or any other item that is relevant.

Step 8 - Select 'Next' to advance to the next section

Step 9 - You can see the child selected below via the blue highlighted box.

Development Matters 'DM2021' is selected as the default guidance material.

Review each area by selecting each one individually. The guidance material updates as you navigate through the areas.

Step 10 - Select an observation to tick it off.

The total number of ticks are displayed in the form of a small number identified next to the child's name and each associated area.

Guidance material on display is defined by what you have selected in your Settings

Step 11 - Select 'Next' to advance to the next section.

For instructions on how to set up your guidance material revert to Article: Introduction - Getting started with settings

Step 1 - When you are in the observation your selected guidance material will be available. In this example you are able to refer to 'DM2021' or 'B25M' as a reference point, below I have selected:

'B25M' > 'PSED'> 'Making relationships'

Guidance material on display is defined by what you have selected in your Settings

For instructions on how to set up your guidance material revert to Article: Introduction - Getting started with settings

Step 2 - To monitor the areas of development you would hit the Area and the Monitoring Title that links to it. as a reference point, below I have selected

'PSED' > 'Area to support'

'EAD' > 'On Track'

The total number of links to the areas of learning are displayed in the form of a small number identified next to the child's name and each associated area.

In addition- There is also the opportunity to refer to 'Observation Checkpoints' these are not to be used as a tick box exercise, but simply to monitor against your provision and you could use these to identify if there are any areas where you may need to change your provision to support your children further.

Step 3 - Select 'Next' to advance to the next section.

Step 1 - Considering this will be sent to the parent, think about this being something they could also adopt a little to do at home. The 'Next Steps' page comes up for you to write on immediately.

Step 2 - Guidance material is available for your reference while deciding on your 'Next Steps'

In the below example we have used:

'EYFS' > 'DM2021'> 'Personal, Social and Emotional Development'

Guidance material on display is defined by what you have selected in your Settings

For instructions on how to set up your guidance material revert to Article: Introduction - Getting started with settings

Step 3 - Once you are happy you have completed each stage, determine if you would like to 'Share with parents' or not, then select 'Publish'.

Step 1 - You can 'Save' the observation in the top right this means you can come back to it at a more convenient time.

Step 2 - Select the Activity tab on the left-hand navigation bar and the saved incident will be found in 'Drafts'.

Below is a reference point. To go back to it you would press 'Continue Editing'.

This would bring up the original Incident to amend.

We hope you found this article informative. We welcome any questions you might have so please feel free to reach out to us via the Intercom OR email us at support@nurserystory.co.uk if you have any further questions