Observations and priorities

A dated log of what you see at home, your child's strengths, three priorities and your concerns statement for the team. Everything you type stays in this browser.

For a first pass, three sheets are essential: the observation log (three dated entries), priorities (three rows) and the concerns statement, which are what Observations and priorities asks for. Strengths is short and worth two lines. My child's view is optional on a first pass and becomes central for an older student. A reader who skips these goes into the meeting with concerns that exist only in memory, and the team has nothing from home to consider in writing.

Observation log

One row per thing you saw (Observations and priorities): the date, the setting, what happened in words someone else could picture, what came before and after, and what helped. Write what you saw and heard, not a label or a cause.

Strengths

What your child does well, with one example and its date (Observations and priorities). The team must consider strengths too, so they belong in the record.

Priorities

Three rows is the target (Observations and priorities): the things that affect learning and daily life most, chosen from your log. Write the date you raised each with the school.

Concerns statement

Three to five sentences in your own words (Observations and priorities): what you see, what you hope for this year, what you want the team to consider. Send it before the meeting (Before the meeting).

My child's view

Optional on a first pass (Observations and priorities). What your child says about school, in their words, when it is appropriate to ask.

How to use this sheet

• One row per thing you saw. A log row is one moment: the date, the setting, what happened, what came before and after, what helped. "Homework was hard this week" is a summary; "Sept 8, homework, 10 lines took 22 minutes" is an observation.
• Write what you saw and heard. Describe actions and words, not labels or causes. "Said 'I'm dumb at reading'" is something you heard; "has low self-esteem" is a conclusion.
• Name who saw it. If a coach, tutor or relative told you, write their name in Who saw it, so the source is clear.
• Priorities come from the log. Link each log row to a priority once you have chosen them; a priority with no rows behind it is worth a second look.
• The concerns statement is three to five sentences. What you see, what you hope for this year, what you want the team to consider. Date it and write where you sent it.