ticking on several age-bands

[Farmborough16]

Our setting has noticed that after observing a child and when trying to assess their age and stage, that you cannot tick different age bands. If you find a stepping stone in one age band and tick that, then find something else that's relevant in another age band and tick that the previously ticked age band will disappear. Is there any way that we can tick all relevant stepping stones within all the age bands?

[FSFRebecca]

It's not possible to tick different age bands within the the same aspect in one assessment - this is because Tapestry uses an algorithm to calculate the analysis for your assessments - if there was more than one age band selected Tapestry would get in a terrible tangle. The way round this is to use the observation once as normal - selecting one age band and then do a second observation called something like 'further assessment of ...' and then make your additional assessments of the aspects. Then when Tapestry does the analysis there will be single age bands selected - what Tapestry does then is average out the age bands that have been selected over time and use that average to assign the appropriate age band (I have attached the tutorial explaining this here)

If you are not showing parents the assessment screens (only the observations) you should set the second observation to publish, but only for staff - that way the assessment data will be included in your analysis but the effectively 'blank' observation won't go out and confuse parents

Hope that helps!

[Helen]

The statements were never designed to be used as a ticklist, where each child is expected to achieve them all, and staff are expected to tick them off! We advise that if you are selecting statements from a higher age-band, you don't actually need to look at the ones in the lower age-band any more. They are just examples of the kinds of knowledge, skills and behaviour that children demonstrate. :1b

[Mouseketeer]

Hi Helen, I do understand this reasoning ( it took a while) and we are trialling not using statements on tapestry at all just bands/refinements, but why is tapestry set up with the ability to 'tick' statements when you complete observations ?

[Helen]

The honest answer here is that so many people asked us to do that! We are always having discussions at Tapestry HQ about offering what clients are asking for, even if this goes against our better judgement, and what we believe to be best early years practice. Those of you who follow our frequent answers to queries about statement ticking, will know our feelings on this! Nancy Stewart's article explains what we think far more eloquently than me. :1b

[Mouseketeer]

Thanks Helen :-)

[springfieldpreschool]

What a fab article - wish I'd seen this years ago!!

[Helen]

Wish we'd asked her to write it years ago ::1a

[springfieldpreschool]

Must admit we have been gulity of the old 'tickbox' approach and we are now trying to 'get our heads around' the best way forward...difficult when you have to shake off years of doing it in a specific way...a way that we think has worked...that we have had success with and as a setting have flourished and gained a high reputation...so we are nervous going forward as we don't want to lose the good we have done! And as a conscientious setting we want to make sure we are doing the best we possibly can for the children that attend!

 

What's that they say about nothing ever standing still in childcare...always something changing...something new...something different!!