Okuzeka
Child Development & Early Education vocabulary · Observation and Assessment

Next steps

Meaning in child development & early education, with examples

phraseCore term

In child development & early education, next steps means: The learning goals and activities planned for a child after an observation, based on their interests and what they seem ready to learn next.

In Turkish: sonraki adımlar, bir sonraki hedefler

How it is used

Very common in UK nursery paperwork and at parents' evenings: 'Her next steps are…'. Usually plural. Good next steps are small and specific, and parents are often invited to support them at home.

Example sentences

  1. His next step is to put on his coat by himself.

  2. After each observation, we write one or two next steps.

Common collocations

  • plan next steps
  • identify next steps
  • next steps in learning
  • share next steps with parents
  • observationWatching and listening to a child carefully, often during play, and writing down what they do and say in order to understand their development and plan for them.
  • formative assessmentOngoing assessment that happens during everyday activities and is used to understand what a child knows and can do and to plan the next steps in their learning.
  • learning journalA record of a child's time in a setting, with observations, photos, drawings and notes, showing their interests and progress; it is often kept online and shared with parents.
  • parents' eveningAn event, often held in the evening, when parents come to the nursery or school to talk with staff about their child's progress and well-being.

More terms: Observation and Assessment

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: