Ask the Expert: Tracking early years progress

I want to develop a tracking system that will show how we support children in our nursery to progress. How do I do this?

Children’s progress depends on the way we provide for those in our care and how we note, respond to and consider their needs. Tracking progress involves setting a baseline, creating a set of monitoring tools, documenting the child’s learning, sharing the progress and analysing the cohort, and finally preparing the child for transition.

It’s usually a good idea to complete the first progress summary by the end of the sixth week of attendance. To track children’s progress you need to document their learning. Use observation forms for daily checks and three- or four-monthly progress summaries with systems for sharing the information with parents. Document the learning in a learning journal. Don’t forget to collect magical moments and significant events. When the child is ready to leave the nursery you can use the information to form the basis of a transition record.

Answered by June O'Sullivan, chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise, the London Early Years Foundation

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