Focused Observation | EYFS

EYFS definition

A focused observation is an observation made with a particular question or purpose in mind. In the EYFS, it can help practitioners understand a specific aspect of a child’s learning, communication, participation or experience and consider what support may be useful.

What might the focus be?

The focus could be how a child joins play, uses new vocabulary or manages a particular routine. It may arise from curriculum learning, a family conversation or something an adult wants to understand more clearly.

Focused describes the purpose, rather than a particular form or length of record.

What might it look like in practice?

A practitioner wonders how a toddler asks other children for a turn. During familiar play, they notice gestures, words, the other children’s responses and any adult help. This may suggest offering a phrase, changing access to materials or observing another context.

How is it used?

Adults consider what they noticed alongside their wider knowledge of the child. One occasion gives a partial picture, and unexpected learning may also be relevant.

A focused observation might be discussed, briefly noted or recorded narratively. The EYFS does not prescribe a quota of focused observations or require every everyday observation to be written down.

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