Child Care Okehampton

Learning Journal

OBSERVATIONS – THE WAY FORWARD                     

TAPESTRY: INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Tapestry is an online e-learning journal to record the development of each child in our setting.  This system allows us to work with parents and carers to share information and record the children’s play and learning in and outside of the setting.

So what is ‘Tapestry’…?

Tapestry provides each individual child with their own e-learning journey held online. Parents and carers are given their own login using their email and password (which is pre-set by us but can be changed by you to make it more secure) All our key persons are given secure pin log-in number (which will only work when the manager is logged in).  Staff can then record and assess children linking to the EYFS curriculum, uploading photo or video media.  Once saved and completed each observation is approved by the manager.  An email is then automatically generated to parents/carers set up to that child’s account and they are informed that an observation has been added so they can have a look and add any of their own comments to it.

Staff have access to Tapestry on tablets and a central laptop so they can upload observations and photographs on a weekly basis.  These will then be checked by the manager before being added to the child’s e-journal and a parent being emailed.

If you cannot access the internet at home/work we will offer you the opportunity to login at Stepping Stones, or alternatively we will print out the observations for you (at a small cost).

As parents/carers you can choose who has access to your childs e-learning journal.  If you would like both parents added or you wish to add grandparents/aunts/uncles etc. to the account please complete the additional person box on the permission form and they can be set up.  Only those people who you have given permission to have a login and password will be able to see your child’s journal.

The website is very easy to navigate your way around.  Currently there is an App available on App Store and Android called ‘TapestryMobile’ or the website                                 Tapestry Login

If you require any help to use Tapestry please ask your child’s key person and they can show you.

Here is our STEP by STEP guide:

To login to your child’s journal ……………

  • Go into the website:   Tapestry Login
  • Put in your email and password
  • Click on your child’s journal and look through the observations.
  • Add your own comments at the bottom of the observation.

If you have any questions or queries about Tapestry don’t hesitate to speak with us.  Below is the Privacy Policy from The Foundation Stage Forum Ltd who run the online site.

Tapestry Privacy Policy

The Tapestry Online Learning Journal service is owned, managed and operated by The Foundation Stage Forum Ltd. (FSF), a UK based organisation entirely concerned with offering supporting services to professionals working with early years education. To read the FSF privacy policy please ask us for a copy.

For Tapestry the FSF have drawn up a more specific policy since, by its nature, they have potential access to the data entered into Tapestry accounts.  Basically you own all the data you enter, and the FSF won’t look at it or make use of it unless you ask them to. More specifically, here are some points you might like to note:

  • When you open a Tapestry account all your information is stored in a dedicated database in servers physically resident in the United Kingdom.
  • When you take out an account with FSF, or when you download and install an app, information will be exchanged. FSF will not trade or otherwise pass on that information to any third party.
  • FSF services and apps carry no advertising or related tracking software, either for their own use or other commercial organisations.
  • The data you enter is stored by FSF, but owned by you. If you decide to terminate your Tapestry account they will ask you if you would like them to archive your information for a limited period. If you do not want to do this, they will delete it completely, which means that the data will disappear forever. They will also delete all media files associated with the account.
  • The system necessarily stores cookies on the computers of users and mobile devices. These are simply to allow navigation of the system and collect no personal data.
  • FSF will not visit your account unless you ask them to (eg to address any issues you are experiencing)
  • FSF will not access or use any contact information Stepping Stones enter (for example, in setting up your parent accounts they will enter email addresses allowing you to be notified of additions to your child’s journal). Email harvesting and exploitation will not happen!

Again – this data is not FSFs; they simply look after it for you. FSF commit to doing this and protecting it for your sole usage.

Tapestry Early Years has been created to help providers and families share information for the benefit of children.