WeeSteps

About

WeeSteps is an observation and assessment app designed specifically for pre-schools, nursery units and Foundation Stage settings in Northern Ireland. Built around the six pre-school Areas of Learning and the Northern Ireland Foundation Stage, WeeSteps helps practitioners capture learning as it happens, build a clear picture of each child’s progress and reduce the time spent writing reports. Capture observations quickly using notes, photos, short videos and voice recordings. Observations can be recorded on iPad even when you are offline, then synced automatically when a connection becomes available. Voice observations can help staff work even faster. Speak an observation aloud and WeeSteps can help draft the note, identify the children involved and suggest relevant Areas of Learning, while leaving the practitioner in control of what is saved. Every observation can be linked to the curriculum, making it easy to review learning and development by child, room, term or Area of Learning. Leaders can quickly see where there is strong evidence and where further opportunities may be needed. WeeSteps also helps prepare end-of-year transition reports. Using the observations already recorded throughout the year, the system can draft a paragraph for each Area of Learning for staff to review, edit and share. Parents and families can be given access to selected learning moments through their own secure family feed. Staff decide exactly what is shared, and observations can be withdrawn when required. Consent is built into the system. Photo, sharing and processing permissions can be recorded for each child, helping staff manage information safely and consistently. Classes and children can be imported from your school management system, including support for Wonde and spreadsheet imports from systems such as Bromcom, SIMS and Arbor. WeeSteps can also support alternative or custom assessment frameworks, allowing settings to use their own development statements alongside the built-in Northern Ireland curriculum. Key features include: • Observation capture using text, photos, video and voice • Offline observation recording and automatic syncing • Northern Ireland pre-school Areas of Learning • Foundation Stage support • Child learning journeys • Curriculum coverage and progress views • Practitioner judgements • Transition report drafting • Secure family sharing • Child consent records • Staff access controls • School management system imports • Custom assessment frameworks • Unlimited staff WeeSteps is developed in Northern Ireland by ePrinting UK, a supplier of software to schools across Northern Ireland.