Assessment of Children’s Learning and Reporting to Parents
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Parent Support and Information.
What is assessment?
Under the licensing requirements assessment is defined as the process of:
- noticing children’s learning,
- recognising its significance,
- responding in ways that foster further learning, and
- documenting some, but not all, of what and how children are learning in order to inform teaching and make learning visible.
Assessment approach
There is no requirement to use a particular method, such as Learning Stories.
Formal and informal methods of assessment can be used to gather information about children’s learning, e.g., running records of language and behaviour, child drawings, time-sampling of children’s activities, interviews with parents and/or home-visits, interviews with children, standardised tests, and learning stories.
The link between the curriculum provided to the child and assessment practices and outcomes
It is required that the service curriculum is informed by assessment that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau, and life contexts.
Communication and consultation with parents and others
Parents and family and whānau must be provided with regular formal and informal opportunities to discuss their child’s learning and care.
The service must share specific evidence of the child’s learning with their parents (But how often specific evidence of a child’s learning must be shared with parents is not specified in the requirements).
The service must involve parents in decision-making concerning their child’s learning.
A process is documented for requesting assistance when required from agencies/services to support working with children and their parents and family/whānau. Te Kōhanga Reo will seek information and guidance from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust whether or not they are with the TKR Trust. (Note that assistance from agencies includes for special education needs).
Failing to meet minimum standards
The Ministry of Education needs to know:
- If you are concerned children’s needs are not being met.
- If you are concerned a service is not meeting a minimum legal requirement.
READ MORE: How to make a complaint and your options.
CAUTION: This page and the information here is provided as part of the My ECE Guide to Early Childhood Service Regulations and Licensing Criteria for Parents (The Guide). The Guide does not purport to be a full and accurate interpretation of all statutory provisions relating to early childhood education services. While best efforts have been used in preparing this guide, no representations or warranties of any kind are made and My ECE assumes no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content. Please note that the Government and Ministry of Education may change, update, or alter any of the requirements at any time. Please help to keep the information on this page up to date by letting us know of changes that need to be made.
Thank you! Kia pai te rā
Reference:
My ECE Guide to Early Childhood Service Regulations and Licensing Criteria for Parents. Prepared by Dr Sarah Alexander and Warwick Marshall.
