How to choose an online learning journal

When exploring online learning journals, it helps to look beyond surface features and focus on how the system will support your daily practice, long-term planning, and meaningful relationships with families. Here are some absolute must-haves that guided the development of our own tool, eylog.

• Ease of use for busy practitioners: A clear, intuitive system helps staff capture observations quickly and confidently, regardless of their level of experience with technology.
• Compatibility with the EYFS and other relevant frameworks: The journal should align seamlessly with the EYFS and any additional curriculum guidance your setting follows, keeping assessments purposeful and consistent.

• Secure data storage and GDPR-compliant processes: Because learning journals contain sensitive information, it is essential that data is stored securely with clear safeguards and compliant processes in place.
• Flexible parent access and communication features: Settings should be able to control what parents see and when, supporting open communication while protecting professional boundaries.
• Unlimited photo, video, and document uploads: Being able to upload media without restrictions allows practitioners to capture learning in rich, meaningful ways without having to edit or limit content.
• Multi-room or multi-setting management: For larger nurseries or groups, the ability to manage multiple rooms or settings from one system supports consistency and smooth transitions.
• Insightful reporting tools: Clear reports help practitioners and managers understand progress over time, identify gaps, and plan next steps with confidence.
• Reliable support and training: Strong onboarding, ongoing training, and responsive customer support ensure the system remains a help rather than a hurdle as teams and needs evolve.

Why eylog is the best online learning journal software for the early years

We don’t want to blow our own trumpet, but we’re confident we have the best online learning journal software in the early years industry. Here are some core features that show why: 

Designed specifically for early years, with Ofsted compliance built in

eylog is a secure, Ofsted-compliant online learning journal created exclusively for nurseries and childcare providers.

Every part of the platform is designed around how Early Years settings actually work, supporting practitioners to record, track, and reflect on children’s learning in a way that aligns with inspection expectations and everyday practice

Rich observations that capture learning as it happens

Practitioners can create detailed observations using multiple photos, videos, and audio clips, bringing children’s learning to life in a meaningful and authentic way. 

These observations can be shared instantly with parents, helping families feel connected to their child’s progress as it unfolds. 

Each observation can also be assessed against development frameworks, supporting practitioners to identify learning gaps for individual children, groups, or cohorts.

Flexible curriculum coverage that fits your setting

eylog supports more than 15 assessment frameworks, alongside a custom framework builder that allows nurseries to reflect their chosen guidance or internal approach. 

This flexibility means learning journeys can be shaped around the setting’s ethos, rather than forcing practice to fit into a rigid system.

Safeguarding integrated into everyday workflows

Safeguarding tools are built directly into eylog, supporting clear and consistent record keeping. Accident reporting includes body maps to show where injuries occurred, parental signatures for acknowledgement, and the ability to review trends across the nursery.

Medicine forms allow staff to log doses and share updates with parents through the app, helping settings evidence safe, transparent practice. At eyworks, we’re committed to safeguarding your online data, making our online tools safe and secure. 

Daily diaries and registers in one joined-up system

eylog brings daily diaries and registers together on the same platform as learning journals. Group diaries can record attendance, meals, nappies, bottles, and other daily care routines, with updates shared with parents in real time. 

This creates a clearer picture of each child’s day while reducing the need to duplicate information across systems.

Deep integration with other eyworks products

eylog integrates fully with the broader eyworks ecosystem, which gives you a tighter technical infrastructure. For example, the eyparent app lets parents contribute observations from home, comment on updates, and show appreciation for shared moments, creating a genuinely beneficial two-way learning journey. Or how a child registered via eyenquiries automatically flows into eymanage and eylog, eliminating duplicate data entry. 

Offline observation capture for outdoor learning and trips

You don’t need a constant Wi-Fi connection to track learning. The eylog tablet app works offline, allowing practitioners to capture observations in gardens, during trips, or during outdoor play without relying on Wi-Fi. Once a connection is available, recorded observations sync automatically to the right child profiles.

Accessible Pricing for Smaller Nurseries

With entry pricing from £19 per month, eylog offers a low barrier to entry for smaller settings. This makes it possible for nurseries of all sizes to benefit from a high-quality online learning journal without committing to a complex or costly system. 

Check out our full pricing options to build the nursery management solution for you. 

Built-In Privacy Tools to Protect Children’s Dignity

eylog includes a photo blurring feature that allows practitioners to blur or crop out other children from observation images. This practical safeguarding tool supports privacy, reduces consent concerns, and helps settings share learning confidently with families.

This is a key feature that helps set eylog apart from others, ensuring that your children are always safe. 

Insightful Reporting for Nursery Groups and Chains

For larger organisations and nursery chains, eylog provides powerful reporting tools that support oversight without losing sight of individual children. 

Managers can filter reports by room, setting, gender, or specific care needs, allowing them to review practice at every level, from a single child to the whole nursery, and make informed decisions that support consistency and quality.

Online Learning Journal Best Practices: How to Use Them Well

Online learning journals are most effective when staff fully understand how to use them effectively. Small, consistent habits help ensure learning journeys remain meaningful for children, manageable for practitioners, and valuable for parents.

• Capture short, focused observations little and often
  Regular, concise observations are easier to sustain and provide a more accurate picture of learning than occasional long written entries.
  
• Link observations clearly to the EYFS or chosen framework
  Making these connections helps ensure assessments remain purposeful and supports confident decision-making around next steps.
  
• Use a balance of individual and group observations
  Combining both approaches shows how children learn independently as well as how they engage with peers and shared experiences during community-based activities.
• Use photos, videos, and audio thoughtfully
  Media adds valuable context to observations when used consistently and with careful attention to children’s dignity and privacy.
• Build in time for managerial review and quality assurance
  Regular review routines support consistent practice, provide opportunities for feedback, and help develop staff confidence over time.
  
• Use reports to inform planning, not just record keeping
  Tools such as two-year checks, cohort tracking, and transition reports are most effective when they actively shape planning and provision.
  
• Share updates with parents at a steady, manageable pace
  A balanced communication rhythm keeps families informed and engaged without overwhelming them with notifications.

When used thoughtfully, online learning journals become more than a record of progress. They support shared understanding, strengthen partnerships with families, and help teams focus on what matters most in Early Years practice.

The Legal Bit: data protection and GDPR

Learning journals contain sensitive personal data about children and families, making GDPR compliance essential.

Nurseries must have a lawful basis for processing data, provide clear privacy notices, control access carefully, and ensure information is encrypted both in transit and at rest. Defined retention periods should also be in place.

Using reputable, UK-focused providers can support compliance, but nurseries remain the data controllers and retain responsibility. When choosing software, it’s worth checking where data is stored, whether a clear data processing agreement is provided, and whether the system supports role-based permissions, audit logs, and subject access requests.

View our full GDPR commitment statement. 

Record the whole learning journey with eyworks

Online learning journals help nurseries evidence high-quality practice, save valuable time, and build stronger relationships with parents. As expectations around 

transparency, safeguarding, and communication continue to grow, digital learning journeys are becoming an essential part of modern Early Years practice.

eylog, as part of the wider eyworks suite, supports rich learning journeys alongside strong safeguarding tools, offline observations, and flexible pricing for nurseries of different sizes.

For settings reviewing their current approach or considering a move away from paper-based systems, now is a natural moment to reflect on how learning journals support both children and the wider nursery community. 

Exploring new processes can be a helpful first step toward a more connected, confident way of recording Early Years learning. Book a demo with eyworks today.