‘When the chicks hatch, a man will come and bring them yolk to eat'

This chapter looks closely at the skills and understanding young children are demonstrating when they are engaged in a variety of experiences, and how their individual learning could be developed and enhanced. It shows a transcript that highlights how questioning, peer discussions and observation can be used to make assessments and lead into planning for teaching and learning for different children. This transcript looks at a group of Reception children independently expressing their current ideas and understanding, through close observation and exploration of the life cycle of a chicken. The eggs and equipment were introduced to the class and factual information was shared with the children about the eggs and what was happening inside the eggs. The chapter looks at how questioning, observation, peer discussions and children's recordings can help educators to make ongoing formative assessments of individual children throughout the transcript. Self-assessment by learners, far from being a luxury, is in fact an essential component of formative assessment.