🔒 To view or create observations, staff will need the manage, view or review and send observations permissions, depending on the type of access required for their role
Making Observations in Famly
Observations are an essential part of tracking a child’s development in your setting. Famly lets staff create, save, and approve observations, while ensuring managers can review and send them. Notifications keep everyone informed when updates or feedback are added.
How to Make an Observation
To create an observation, staff need the Manage observations permission. If staff only have this permission, observations will be sent to a manager for review.
To make an observation:
Go to the child’s Journey tab on their profile
Select New → Observation from the dropdown, or click the Observation tab from the Newsfeed
Choose the framework you are working in, using the boxes above the text
Use the Reference material panel on the left to access curriculum guidance
Enter the child’s name to see suggested bands or stages
View past observations and assessments by clicking Past observations and assessments
Add what you will do next to support the child’s learning by clicking What’s next?
Upload photos or a video
Only one video per observation, but multiple photos can be added
💡 To view reference material on the app, use a tablet in landscape mode
You can still edit or delete an observation after it has been posted:
Go to Learning → Child Development → Overview
Click the three dots on the observation, then choose Edit or Delete
Draft Observations
Drafts allow you to save an observation to finish later. To manage draft observations:
Select Draft from the Status dropdown in your Child development overview
Your draft observations will appear in a list
Click the three dots next to an observation to:
Edit it (wait for photo uploads to complete before adding text)
Delete it
💡 Draft observations are automatically deleted 90 days after their last edit
Approving Observations
Managers or staff with approval permissions can review and approve observations:
Go to Learning → Child Development → Overview
Open the Status dropdown and select Pending review
Click an observation to open it
Click Approve and send to add it to the child’s Journey
You can filter observations by:
Date range
Author
Child
Key person
💡 If you request changes or update an observation, it will appear under the month it was edited, not the original creation month. The original observation date is still visible in the Observation date column.
To give feedback before sending observations to the child’s Journey:
Open the observation
Add a comment in the box on the left
Click the paper aeroplane icon to send the message
Click Request changes
Observation Notifications
Staff receive notifications based on these rules:
When a staff member requests changes to their observation
When another staff member updates an observation in review
When an observation is approved and sent
When a parent comments on the observation
💡 Make sure staff are assigned to their key children so they receive all notifications about observations in review