Book excerpt: 100 Ideas for Early Years Practitioners: Observation, Assessment & Planning is not only filled with easy to implement and practical ideas for the early years classroom, but it also demonstrates why assessment is an important formative tool to help further children's learning. In this book, early years expert and experienced author Marianne Sargent explains the cycle of observation, assessment and planning with advice on how to carry out different types of observation, guidance on how to make effective use of observations to assess children's knowledge and understanding, and explanations for how to use this information to inform future planning. The book also offers ideas on how to carry out summative assessments - as well as how to organise assessment information for reporting purposes. With the ever-increasing focus on observation, assessment and planning in the early years, this book is a must-have for all practitioners looking to effectively introduce all three into their setting while still ensuring the children in their care are in an environment where they can be confident, feel supported and still have fun as they grow and learn.