In the Moment 

In the moment planning enables the practitioners in the room to observe and interact with their key children as they pursue their own interests. It also allows for the child to be assessed during an activity and to be immediately moved on within their learning in that moment. The practitioner who is observing the child will write a written account of the interactions which then contributes to the child’s learning journey.

Before planning for ‘In the moment’ a practitioner for the room will provide the parent/carer with a ‘parent voice’ form to complete. They will also be informed that the practitioner will be planning for the child’s ‘ In the moment’ for the following week. The ‘parent voice’ form allows for the practitioner to gain an insight into what the child is showing an interest in at home. 

When the practitioner receives the completed form they can then have a look at the interests which the parent/carer has mentioned and begin to make links with what the child has shown an interest in when attending our nursery.  This information then allows the practitioner to select an interest to focus on and set up a child-led activity spontaneously. 

During the activity the child is observed by the practitioner. They are then assessed through the use of open-ended questions in order to find out how they approach the task, how they learn, which areas they may need support in or where they may need to be challenged.

The practitioner will also take photographs throughout and write a written account (documented on the ‘In the moment’ template) of the interactions after the activity has been completed. Leading on from this activity, the practitioner will then be able to plan and set up the next activity. In total the practitioner will plan for 3 consecutive ‘ In the moment’ sessions. They will also document any links to the EYFS curriculum and areas to focus on within the future.

The step of spotting a ‘teachable moment’ would be immediately followed by engaging with the child and gently taking their learning to the next step allowing the planning cycle in that session to be completed immediately.

The practitioner will then make a copy of the written account and give a copy to the parent/carer of the child. Each child receives  two  In the moment's  per year.