Defining And Assessing Quality In Early Childhood Education

`Not only does this book offer a great deal of insight into evaluating early childhood services, it also provides a focal point for those interested in establishing goals, objectives and evaluation criteria for their own early childhood programmes′ - Early Years `Quality′ has become a priority issue for all concerned with early childhood care and education services. Starting from the premise that `quality′ is a relative and dynamic concept based on values and beliefs, Valuing Quality in Early Childhood Services examines how the definitions of quality are established and who is involved in their establishment. The book advocates that the process should involve a range of stakeholder groups, including children, parents, staff, care providers, researchers, employers and the community. A key issue that emerges is the need for new and creative approaches to the development of an inclusionary process in the definitions and attainment of quality care.

The assessment of young children's development and learning has recently taken on new importance. Private and government organizations are developing programs to enhance the school readiness of all young children, especially children from economically disadvantaged homes and communities and children with special needs. Well-planned and effective assessment can inform teaching and program improvement, and contribute to better outcomes for children. This book affirms that assessments can make crucial contributions to the improvement of children's well-being, but only if they are well designed, implemented effectively, developed in the context of systematic planning, and are interpreted and used appropriately. Otherwise, assessment of children and programs can have negative consequences for both. The value of assessments therefore requires fundamental attention to their purpose and the design of the larger systems in which they are used. Early Childhood Assessment addresses these issues by identifying the important outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and the quality and purposes of different techniques and instruments for developmental assessments.

This collection of papers provides a useful resource for scholars who need to ground their own study in a wider historical and global discourses concerning the education of children under eight.

The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale - Extension (ECERS-E) has been developed by Kathy Sylva, Iram Sraj-Batchford and Brenda Taggart as an instrument to measure quality in literacy, numeracy, science and diversity, as observable in pre-school settings. The scales are in accord with the United Kingdom1s Foundation Stage Curriculum. ECERS-E complements the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales-Revised (ECERS-R), an internationally recognised measure of quality in education and care. Although originally devised as a research tool, the scales have been used by early years practitioners during self audits to determine quality of provision. This practical handbook will be of interest to all those concerned with providing a quality environment in which young children1s learning can flourish.

This book challenges received wisdom and the tendency to reduce philosophical issues of value to purely technical issues of measurement and management.

"Questions such as these are typically asked by early childhood professionals-in-training as well as by seasoned practitioners in the field. Our work with students and increasing numbers of educators probing for answers indicated the need for a comprehensive guide to support the exploration, planning, and implementation of developmentally appropriate programs for young children. Thus, our goal in writing Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education is to bring together the best information currently available for developing an integrated approach to curriculum and instruction in the early years. We also hope to bridge the worlds of childcare and early education, as well as those of preprimary and early primary programs. This book addresses early childhood professionals-in training and professionals working in formal group settings with young children from 3 to 8 years old"--