Elements and Performance Criteria
- Gather and document detailed information about the child
- Gather information and observations according to a child's emerging skills
- Gather detailed information about children and document using a variety of appropriate methods
- Ensure information and observations collected are valid, representative, significant and relevant
- Make series of observations to address all aspects of development over a period of time and in a variety of situations
- Consult colleagues, families and others in a sensitive manner
- Monitor children's developmental progress and develop understanding of individual children
- Use observations and information to assess and monitor child's play preferences, social interactions, communication and language, thinking styles, physical abilities and emotional status
- Interpret information and observations to identify individual emerging skills, capabilities, potential, interests, preferences of child to guide program strategies to foster development
- Monitor and interpret behaviour that is out of character for an individual child and respond appropriately
- Demonstrate understanding and application of inclusive principles in interpreting observations
- Use information from observations with others
- Demonstrate quality observation practices to other workers
- Provide information to others to inform program planning, support children's play and evaluate programs
- Use records of observations to provide feedback to children about their skills and competence and promote remembering
- Make time available to share information with parents
- Follow up any concerns regarding child's development with appropriate persons/services
- Use information to plan the program
- Design observation systems with others
- Develop systematic ways of observing children to ensure all children are included
- Develop systematic ways of observing children to ensure that all interpretations of behaviour can be clearly linked to evidence
- Clearly link observation systems developed to program planning and evaluation processes
- Implement processes to ensure appropriate access by others to observation information