About this resource
Before using this resource, read the Introduction: Assessment for children’s learning. The introduction provides insights into the importance of assessment in quality, evidence-based ECEC practice with cultural responsiveness at its heart.
Because young children learn and develop in diverse ways, effective assessment involves providing a diverse range of opportunities for them to demonstrate their progress.
Assessment strategies that support this Principle include:
- Recognise that every aspect of children’s learning, development and wellbeing can be demonstrated in different ways. Use resources that assist you to understand the components of young children’s learning, but which leave scope for children to demonstrate these in their own unique ways (such as the early childhood learning trajectories).
- Use a range of assessment strategies that reflect and respond to each child’s abilities, needs, preferences and ways of being. In choosing strategies, draw on each child’s emerging interests, aspirations, social and cultural preferences, and other aspects of their unique identity.
- Collect evidence from settings that are socially and culturally relevant to children (including families’ insights from their home and other settings that are familiar to them). This can help identify different ways in which the child interacts and demonstrates their learning and development.
- Reflect on whether meaningful information is collected and analysed for all children regularly, and in an equitable way. Consider whether the perspectives of children, families and other relevant people are included.
Reflection questions:
- Reflect on the diverse ways children might demonstrate their learning, development and wellbeing. How do you notice these in your assessment?
- Think about which aspects of learning, development and wellbeing matter most to the diverse families at your service. How does your practice reflect these priorities?
This practice resource is part of a series of 8 Assessment for children’s learning practice resources:
- Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
- Partnerships
- Respect for diversity
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
- Equity, inclusion and high expectations
- Sustainability
- Critical reflection and ongoing professional learning
- Collaborative leadership and teamwork.
They link to the early childhood learning trajectories suite of resources including the Learning trajectories user guide, Evidence report and the Play-based learning and intentionality practice resources.
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Keywords: educator reflection, educator professional development