In this article:

Development Matters

Development Matters is the DfE's non-statutory curriculum guidance for

the early years foundation stage. Development Matters is based on the 'Seven Key Features of Effective Practice':

The best for every child
High-quality care
The curriculum: what we want children to learn
Pedagogy: helping children to learn
Assessment: checking what children have learnt
Self-regulation and executive function
Partnership with parents

It is also based on the characteristics of effective teaching and learning:

playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things

You have the ability to reference the Development Matters guidance when making observations and assessments. You cannot link observations or assessments to specific curriculum statements, but can use this document to help underpin your knowledge.

Birth to Five Matters

As part of your reference material when making observations and assessments of children, you have access to the Birth to Five Matters guidance. This guidance focusses on:

the child at the centre of practice
the child’s connections within family, communities, cultures and the natural world
the need to consider the whole child: physical, social and emotional wellbeing, health, and learning
the child’s rights as a member of society under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
the sector’s responsibilities under the United Nations Sustainability Goals and UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development
the statutory requirements of the SEND Code of Practice.

Importantly, you cannot link observations or assessments to specific curriculum statements, but can use this to help shape your knowledge of child development.

Pre-birth to three

'Pre-Birth to Three: Positive Outcomes for Scotland’s Children and Families' is national guidance, to support and inform practice across Scotland for those working with children and families. This guidance is underpinned by the values and principles of Getting it right for every child and comprises of four pillars:

Rights of the child
Relationships
Responsive care
Respect

You can make observations in Famly, using 'Four Key Principles for Best Starts and Positive Outcomes' as reference.

The Curriculum for Excellence

The curriculum for Excellence is Scotland's curriculum. There are eight areas of learning:

Expressive arts
Health and wellbeing
Languages (including English, Gaidhlig, Gaelic learners and modern languages)
Mathematics
Religious and moral education
Sciences
Social studies
Technologies.

Literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing are recognised as being particularly important.

You can make observations in Famly with reference to the Experiences and Outcomes and of the CfE

GIRFEC- Getting It Right For Every Child

GIRFEC is an initiative in Scotland to support families in making sure children and young people can receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people. The aim is to help them to grow up feeling loved, safe and respected so that they can realise their full potential. GIRFEC asserts that at home, in school, or the wider community, every child and young person should be: