Child Observation Report

Observation is important as the practitioner can find out what the child is interested in and what motivates
them to learn alongside their progress and how they behave in certain situations, additionally at the same
time it identifies if children need assistance within certain areas of learning or socially (DCSF, 2008).
Furthermore the observations check that the child is safe, contented, healthy and developing normally
within the classroom or early years setting, over time the observations can be given to parents as they
show a record of progress which helps to settle the parent and feel more comfortable about their childs
education. Observations are not only constructive within learning about an individual child, they can be
used to see how different groups of children behave in the same situation and how adults communicate
and deal with childrens behaviour (Meggitt and Walker, 2004). Overall observations should always look at
the positives of what children can complete within education and not look at the negatives and all
observations should become a fundamental part of all practitioners work alongside reflection (Smidt,
2009).
Reflection within early years settings and schools allows for the practitioner to think about the work that is
being completed either whilst doing it or after it has occurred, the reflection allows for seeing how the work
has gone or whether it needs to be changed for future practice. Schn is a key writer about reflection and
illustrates the differences between reflection in action, reflection on action and reflection whilst completing
the task. The above critical skills help all practitioners to develop understanding as they hugely impact on
others lives, if this skill is not engaged in then practice could be effected (Leeson, 2004).
The class in which the observations took place was a Year One and Two class with twenty six pupils in
the class. Adults within the class were the Teacher, one Teaching Assistant with the occasional help of a
Special Needs Assistant. Confidentiality is important within the classroom setting therefore to respect the
individuals own confidentiality they will be known as Child J throughout this assignment. Child J is a male
aged five years and three months. It was decided that the observations of the individual would be about
concentration, as the Teacher was concerned that J does not have the ability to concentrate for more than
five minutes at a time. The observations will be noted and taken further if it is felt that it will be beneficial
to the childs education.
Time Sampling
Time sampling observations are used within schools and early years settings, as they are observations of
children which are recorded at fixed regular intervals of time to ensure what is happening at that time is
noted. Time sampling observations are a constructive way to collect the observational data and it is
presented over a longer period of time this allows for precise data and short focused snapshots of the
individual childs development. Practitioners can use this method of observation if they are feeling
concerned about an individual, as it can be undertaken at different periods of time to see how the child is
reacting throughout the day, although they need to ensure that the child does not notice they are being

observed.

Target Child
Target child observations were invented to help study concentration in children and give an idea of an
individual childs holistic development, these observations can help to show a childs development at
particular stages as the individual child is observed over a set period of time. Additionally noted down in
the observation is language which was used and what social group they were with. There are advantages
and disadvantages to target child observations with the advantages being a vast amount of information
provided about the childs progress furthermore it allows for the observer to notice where the child spends
most of there time and who they interact with. The disadvantages to the target child observation is that the
observer needs to have specific time set aside to concentrate solely on the individual child and have the
ability to summarise accurately. Another disadvantage to this observation is that codes are used to ensure
the observer has mainly there full attention of the child without having to look at the paper to much. The
codes are for certain names and interactions however the disadvantage of them is the observer needs to
learn them and feel comfortable with them before using them and they can be difficult to learn to some
people (Hobart and Frankel, 2004).
Event Sampling
Event Sampling is pattern building observations about childrens behaviour, and they focus on the event
that provokes certain behaviour and to clarify what really happens around that behaviour how long it lasts
for and does the event happen at certain points of the childs day. Event samples help immensely in
seeing whether the child had a behavioural problem and they focus on apparent problems and try to find
solutions to manage the behaviour effectively although it can lead to the child being referred to other
professionals providing this will better the childs education.

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"Child Observation Report." 123HelpMe.com. 13 Apr 2015
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