> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting Up Termly Reviews

> The settings that shape termly reviews — level wording, which frameworks are assessed, under-threes, sharing with families and AI.

Termly reviews work out of the box: you can start reviewing without changing anything. This page explains each setting so you can make reviews fit the way your setting works.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Open in app: the **Termly reviews** tab of [Settings → Development](https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/app/admin/settings/development?tab=reports). Only managers can change these settings.

## Switching termly reviews on or off

Termly reviews, and the term summaries families receive, are one feature, switched on or off from the **Features** card on [Site Profile](https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/docs/onboarding/site-profile.md). They're on by default. Switching the feature off hides reviews and summaries from staff and families; nothing is deleted.

## Frameworks assessed in reviews

Each framework you assess has its areas judged every term. This list shows the frameworks you've switched on for observations, with a switch for each.

![The Termly reviews settings with Frameworks assessed in reviews highlighted: Development Matters and EYFS switched on, the setting's own Curiosity Curriculum switched off](https://mintcdn.com/pigeonholeearlyyearsltd/scN0b7d_0PnpW0pu/images/termly-review-settings.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=scN0b7d_0PnpW0pu\&q=85\&s=5cdfa4c9dff3f0fe8ab762d7f4c00b6a)

* **Built-in frameworks** (EYFS, Development Matters) start switched on.
* **Your own frameworks** start switched off. Frameworks you've built yourself are often for tagging observations (an outdoor curriculum, for example) rather than for judging every child every term. Switch one on if you do want to assess it.
* **Characteristics of Effective Learning** never appear. They describe *how* a child learns rather than what they've achieved, so they're never judged.
* Frameworks that share area names, such as EYFS and Development Matters, show each area once.

If you've no frameworks switched on at all, reviews use the seven EYFS areas.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Changing which frameworks are assessed affects reviews started from then on. A review already started keeps any area where staff have recorded something.

## Prime areas only for children under three

Off by default. Switch it on to review children under three on the three prime areas only (communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development), as on the [progress check at age two](https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/docs/managers/development/two-year-checks.md). A child's age is taken at the end of the term.

## Wording for each level

Choose the words staff see for each level:

| Option | Levels |
| - | - |
| **Support-focused** (the default) | Needs more support · Progressing well · Exceeding |
| **Plain language** | Not yet · On track · Ahead |
| **Paper forms** | Emerging · Expected · Exceeding |
| **Custom** | Your own wording for each level |

Reviews have their own wording, separate from the two-year check, so you can use support-based language for ongoing reviews even if your two-year check uses Emerging and Expected.

**Use a third level** adds the level above the second. It's off by default: most settings only need to know whether a child is progressing well or needs more support.

## Sharing with families

![The sharing and AI settings: Start the term summary when a review is completed (on), Mention levels in term summaries (off), Share next steps with families by default (on) and AI preparation (on)](https://mintcdn.com/pigeonholeearlyyearsltd/scN0b7d_0PnpW0pu/images/termly-review-settings-sharing.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=scN0b7d_0PnpW0pu\&q=85\&s=da67b01099a56fa45a547d8d5c98d7c4)

| Setting | Default | What it does |
| - | - | - |
| **Start the term summary when a review is completed** | On | Completing a review drafts the family's term summary, ready to check and publish. Switch it off if you review more often than you share; staff can still start a summary from any completed review. |
| **Mention levels in term summaries** | Off | Off, families read about what their child has enjoyed and achieved and what's next, without judgements. On, the summary may mention levels where it helps. |
| **Share next steps with families by default** | On | New next steps appear in the term summary. Staff can keep any single one for the team only. |

## AI preparation

On by default. **Prepare with AI** reads a child's observations for the term and suggests levels, next step outcomes, new next steps and a draft term summary. Switch it off and staff complete reviews and write summaries themselves. See [How the AI helps](https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/docs/managers/development/termly-reviews/ai.md).

## Term summary writing rules

The **Term summaries** card, further down the same tab, holds plain-language writing rules for summaries, such as "Never name another child". The AI follows them when it drafts a review or summary, and summaries are checked against them before they're shared. See [Term summaries](https://pigeonholeapp.co.uk/docs/managers/development/termly-reviews/term-summaries.md#writing-rules).


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