Blog - WatchMeGrow

November 5, 2023

Observation-in-action - How to use Whiteboards to document and deepen children’s interests at a Nursery School in South Acton, London

Whiteboards at one setting in northwest London have become a collaborative focal point for planning activities and documenting children’s thoughts and practitioners’ responses in a visible way, explain Chevone Newman and Di Chilvers.

August 5, 2023

Observing Twins Hugh and Hamish as the develop and grow over 12 months

Sally Carlton – Early Years Outreach worker at South Acton Nursery School and Children’s Centre tells the story of Hugh and Hamish and their parents as they attend the Children’s Centre

November 16, 2022

Curriculum Perspectives

An Editorial for the Autumn 22 Early Education Journal – Di Chilvers It is timely to take stock of where we are in the world of early childhood education with regards to the much talked about issue of ‘curriculum’ and what this means for young children’s development, learning and progress. The Autumn journal brings together […]

June 5, 2022

Practice in Action – How are we showing and sharing young children’s development, learning and progress?

Di explains how you can use the Development Map Continuum to see children’s development and progress in the Areas of Learning

July 24, 2020

Observation and assessment Lucy’s story……

I created the Development Map™ to support good observation and assessment practices as well as to show the ‘story’ of a child’s development and progress. It is a ‘pedagogical tool’ which can be used in everyday practice, by practitioners for assessing children’s learning and progress through the EYFS. It views children’s thinking, learning and growth […]

June 1, 2020

What do we want for our children between June 1st and September 1st 2020?

The Early Years Foundation Stage has been in an unprecedented period of challenge and change over the last three years, which has been far from easy as we have tried to maintain the philosophy and pedagogy of research informed high quality practice (see Getting it right in the EYFS: a review of the evidence, 2019). […]

March 15, 2020

Development Does Matter.....

Di Chilvers: Advisory consultant in early childhood education; Early Education Associate and writer Over the years Development Matters has become an integral part of the early years sectors everyday practice; the ‘go to’ for practitioners, teachers, child-minders and parents as an indicator of children’s development and progress. Having originally being brought together from the Practice […]

January 28, 2020

Part 2: More of Di’s thoughts and responses to the EYFS Consultation

Have just written 4750 words to the DfE in response to the EYFS Reforms!!!!! They may help you to form your own responses - I hope so. We need all those involved in working with young children in the EYFS to have their say so please reply. You can access the Consultation here https://consult.education.gov.uk/early-years-quality-outcomes/early-years-foundation-stage-reforms/ which […]

January 27, 2020

EYFS Reforms Di's Response to Question 6 : The Areas of Learning

Early Years Foundation Stage Reforms – Government Consultation – 31st January 2020 It’s time to get your voices heard by responding to the Governments proposed reform to the Early Years Foundation Stage which closes at mid-day on Friday 31st January 2020. PLEASE RESPOND – we need as many replies as possible to prevent the biggest […]

April 10, 2019

Di's Response to the Ofsted EIF consultation document

Education inspection framework 2019: inspecting the substance of education Di Chilvers – Response to the consultation document 5th April 2019 Proposal 1 We propose the introduction of a new ‘quality of education’ judgement built around our working definition of the curriculum. It will focus on a provider’s educational intent, implementation and impact. Inspectors look at […]

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