Any ideas for my childrens profile record books?

Question

I want to make them really interesting and fun to read and look at plus informative. They are books with photos and journalling the learning taking place and the plans for the children next steps in their learning. Do you have any ideas for layouts or questionaires I can send home for families or anything that I can include to make them interesting now and in years to come. What would you be interested in knowing about your child if they were in day care. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Child's Favorite _____at School

food

friend

activity/center

book

song

And any art work accompanied by dictation is wonderful. Be sure to write it exactly how they say it and now how they should have said it.

Answer 2

Currently our books are set out:

Birth To Three:  

-Front page has child's photo when they start (one when they turn 3 put next to it), settings name and child's details.

-One page for each of the 4 themes to stick in observations-dated and signed by staff member.

-On each of these pages has information from the cards of what the general aims are.

-One page after each section which is to stick in photos, art work wtc.

-PAge of back for parents/carers comments, things from homelife etc.

-Page saying "Future Opportunities" where staff write what they will do to take child to next stage.

Foundation Stage:

-Front page same as above

-Booklet split into the 6 areas of learning-one side of the page has the ELG targets other side of page is blank for observations that 'prove' targets have been met.

-Last page is for parents/carers

-There's room for photos in the observation pages.

-NExt Step page: Box saying the area of learning, the 'why' and the 'what' and 'how'.

In September these will change in accordance to the new Early Years Foundation Stage. Havent seen the template of these yet though. x

PS: We also have a home to preschool diary thats used daily to record what child has been up to, any dificulties that day, news from home etc.

Answer 3

Every child in our Foundation Stage has a large empty folder when they start with us; it is split into six areas of learning based on the EYFS (i.e. a clearly labelled, different coloured divider for each area, with extra coloured card to match each area).  

Because we use folders there is lots of room to include as many significant pieces of work as the children produce, and we stick notes, observations, achievements and photographs to the pieces of card depending on the area they most relate to.  We also have specific 'focus' observation sheets where we look at a child engaged in activity for a short time, write exactly what they say and do, then link what we have seen to the ELGs.  

These folders are referred to on a daily basis for formative assessment and planning each child's next steps, and this information is relayed back to parents informally on a regular basis, and formally at parents evenings.

As for presentation, you could make the folders as bold and bright as you like, you could get the children to decorate them to make them their own; use hand, feet and finger prints and first-day-at school photographs for the opening page - the sky is the limit!

Answer 4

lots of work samples, photos, quotes from the child (maybe ask them questions about their family, friends, what they want to be when they grow up, what they love and why, etc; or just random things they say through the day), hand and foot prints and lots of bright colours to make it bright.