Book excerpt: This title is designed to help early years practitioners in any setting understand clearly and precisely how to best plan for and observe learning in the early years. This title covers all the key aspects of planning and observing that affect those in practice, including how to: Assess and observe children, Put children at the heart of your planning, Link observation to planning, Plan for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This title also includes printable/photocopiable forms for you to use to structure your own planning and observations with, and help you to put the best practice examples in this book directly into practice.