Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). One of the requirements is that members of staff use ongoing observations to monitor how the child in your care is developing and learning and use these to plan their play and learning. There are many different ways in which observations can be made. One method of keeping track of all these observations, and develop your EYFS planning is to use the Trackers 0–5 book.

The EYFS Trackers are divided into the Areas of Learning within the EYFS framework and show all the many steps that young children pass through before they go to school and into the year in which they start.

The EYFS divides children’s experiences into six Areas of Learning. Within these, there are also certain Early Learning Goals (shown by a G) which most children will be expected to reach before the end of the year in which they reach their fifth birthday.

The EYFS Trackers 0–5 are also useful for sharing valuable information with parents or carers, enabling you to keep in touch with a child’s progress and allowing a much closer partnership with the setting. There is a general observation form at the end of each Area of Learning, and a comments box on most pages for you (or parents) to add any comments you wish to make.

In developing these Trackers, we have incorporated suggestions from many childminders, early years staff, nursery managers and teachers to make them as user-friendly as possible. They are very widely used (over 30,000 copies have already been sold), and used throughout Busy Bees nurseries (the largest chain of nurseries in the country).

So how does it work?

There is a detailed introduction to parents and carers, and early years staff and childminders giving information about the Early Years Foundation Stage and some suggestions about how to use the Trackers.

The book is then divided into the six Areas of Learning. Each page carries the title of one area of development within that particular Area of Learning.

Each Tracker contains between 14 and 30 statements of developmental stages, skills, understanding or competence. The columns to the right of these enable you to record dates and evidence (a very important part of your observation and assessment).

There is additional space at the bottom for any further comments you'd like to make. At the end of each Area of Learning, we've included a general observation and a planning form where you can include information about particular activities that went well, or badly, and what you could do to change them.

“I have been reading through the Tracker record booklets, and I am very impressed with their layout. I am confident that they will reduce the written workload of my staff as well which has been a major concern for all in early years” (Judith Baxter, St. Mary’s Nursery).

Other reviews

How do I order them?

Prices (POST FREE)
Single copies £5 each

10+ copies (up to 100 copies) £3.50 each

100+ copies only £3 each

More EYFS resources

Two practical manuals (one covering birth to 36 months, the other 30-60 months) called Making the Early Years Foundation Stage work for you  are now available. These fantastic, easy to use manuals will help you draw up activity planners, record events, evaluate your planning ... and much more ... and all for just £12.50 each. More details on the Early Years page.

The EYFS Handbook

This is worth looking at. Developed by a nursery, it is full of useful ideas. You can have a look at the entire sample copy online here.

If you require any further information, please call us on 01785 620364 or email info@qed.uk.com