What is the number one indicator of quality in early childhood education?
|
As Dr Sarah Alexander, an international expert on Quality in ECE has argued, quality is “in the eye of the beholder”. Show
Dr Alexander has provided the “Six Signs of Quality Early Childhood Education” for parents to refer to. Together these signs of quality show if an early childhood service is quality or not quality, for the child and their family. Additionally, the Ministry of Education sets measurable standards that all services must meet by law and in return for receiving public funding. The regulations can cover structural indicators of quality, such as low child:adult ratios, early childhood qualified teachers, and small group size. Regulations are set to provide for the minimum acceptable level of quality from the government’s perspective as a main funder of early childhood education, rather than the optimal level for children. The Six Signs of Quality Early Childhood EducationThe child is happyThe child is happy to be at the centre or service. The child shows lots of smiles and laughter, receives and gives hugs, and builds friendships with others at the service. They are always keen in the morning to get ready to go to the service. The child’s health and safety is ensuredA high level of supervision of children is provided at the service. There is strong knowledge among the adults as to what to expect developmentally of children in their abilities and reactions. Hygiene practices are great and the chance of children getting sick from a contagious disease is therefore low. Potential safety risks for children in the play environment are carefully managed. The child’s learning is supported and enrichedThe child is exposed to learning and experiences beyond what the child already knows and experiences at home and in other settings. The environment is stimulating and suits the childThere are lots of things to interest the child and keep the child busy and occupied. What is provided at the service for the child to do, gives the child a sense of being able to push oneself towards doing things at a higher level of difficulty and to try new things. Family values, beliefs and language are truly supportedThere is consistency between what the parents and family value and their aspirations for their child and the views, expectations and practices of the people caring for the child in the early childhood programme. Parents’ needs for support with childcare and early childhood education are fully metYou can tell this is achieved when parents don’t feel grumpy about anything at the programme – instead parents feel delighted that they have enrolled with the service and feel like shouting from the roof-tops about how great it is for them and their child. These six signs of quality early childhood education are inter-related, for example if a child is not happy then the child will gain less from attending the educational programme. It is essential for an early childhood service to fully meet expectations for children’s happiness and safety and health. If a service has some deficiencies in the other areas (i.e. provisions for children’s learning, environmental stimulation, supporting family culture and language, and parents’ needs) and if these deficiencies are considered minor and can be made-up for at home or elsewhere then the service may still be acceptable for the child and family. The not-so-secret formula for quality ECE for childrenThe formula for quality early childhood education is now available as a single poster you can download and print. The formula reflects over thirty years of research into factors important for effective teaching for diverse children and empirical indicators of quality ECE related to child outcomes. Checklist for parents when choosing careA checklist that provides more detailed items for parents to check when choosing an early childhood service is available from the My ECE parents website. Has this been useful? Give us your feedback. You are welcome to add a link to this page on your website. Copyright belongs to the OECE so please do not copy any content without our written permission. Information provided is of a general nature. It is provided ‘as is’, and we accept no liability for its accuracy or completeness. See our Terms and Conditions. Related Posts
Who is Who in our SectorEarly Childhood Education System. The Stakeholders and Key Organisations Peak Bodies / Largest ECE Service Operators Operators of more than 400 licensed services in our Read More » Most Early Childhood Services Are Making a Profit2013 Survey of Income, Expenditure and Fees of Early Childhood Education Providers. A new Ministry of Education report suggests that most services are earning more Read More »Guide to Reducing the Risk of Choking on FoodHow Food Can Put a Young Child at Risk of Choking. Why Food Healthy foods such as apples and carrots can be dangerous for young Read More »Differences between Montessori, Rudolf Steiner and KindergartenMontessori Rudolf-Steiner and Kindergarten. By Dr Sarah Alexander. Montessori Montessori early childhood centres or schools are different to walk into from most kindergartens and other Read More »Proceedings of the 8th National Summit on Men in Early Childhood Teaching and CareEC-Menz Summit Theme: “Lifting the Lid on Gender Issues in Early Childhood Education” Held 7th-8th March, 2014. Wellington City, New Zealand. Conference Mihi Whakatau / Read More »Letter to the Minister of Education – A request not to mislead on ECE teacher pay parityHon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education. By email. 2 May 2022 Tēna rā koe, Minister Hipkins, E kore ngā pūtake e mākukungia e kore Read More »Death of a PetThe death of a pet, especially a first pet, can be more traumatic for a child than it is for an adult. Often the child has grown up with the pet and considers it to be as much a member […] What are some good quality indicators for early childhood?These include:. Health, safety and good hygiene.. Good nutrition.. A well-maintained environment set up for children.. An adequate number of staff who are sensitive and responsive to children.. Opportunities for active play—especially outdoors.. Opportunities for quiet play and rest.. Which is the best indicator of childcare preschool quality?Child:staff ratios and group sizes are two of the best indicators for determining the quality of a child care program and they significantly effect many other health and safety issues.
What is the best quality that every early childhood educator should have?Patience, communication, and a love of young children are just a few of the qualities you'll need if you want to become an early childhood educator. Young children move a mile a minute, aren't always the best listeners, and are learning just about everything as if it's brand new.
What are the 3 important components of an early childhood environment?The three discrete components of a well-designed early childhood environment—the temporal, social, and physical environments—really do not stand alone. They're like ingredients in a well-designed recipe.
|
