The early years are crucial for children’s development, and the early childhood classroom is ideal for assessing how students are progressing at their individual learning pace. At U-GRO Learning Centres, both teachers and parents can gain an understanding of children’s growth and development through the use of early childhood assessment tools.
Here are some things to know and expect about the assessment process for your child, as well as developmental domains we use to monitor progress.
Why Evaluations are Needed
Every child is different, and every child progresses at his or her own pace. Conducting an early childhood assessment is a team effort at U-GRO. Parents are able to discover if what they see at home aligns with what their child’s teacher observes in the classroom, as well as communicate any developmental concerns. It’s also a way for teachers to know the best ways to support children’s growth and development. Teachers can use information from observations and assessments to see your child’s unique learning strengths and needs.
When is my child evaluated?
New U-GRO children are assessed using a questionnaire that both teachers and parents complete within 45 days of a child’s start in our program. This tool is used once again as children transition from the toddler to the preschool program at age 3.
In addition to this preliminary assessment, U-GRO also uses an online assessment system for ongoing child evaluation. This system is an authentic, observation tool that tracks your child’s ongoing development. Through this assessment system, infant and toddler children are evaluated at important milestones: 4 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, and 36 months.
Preschool and kindergarten children receive assessments at the following times each year: October, February and May.
Our team members love being a part of your child’s developmental journey. Assessment and observation occurs each and every day to monitor his or her progress; however, as a parent, you can expect to receive reports at the milestones previously mentioned.
What developmental areas are assessed?
Children are assessed on an individual basis in competencies over nine domains of development and learning that are aligned to the PA Early Learning Standards. This reassures U-GRO team members—and parents—that we are focusing on the next milestone, whether that’s in the toddler classroom, preschool classroom, or elementary school. Assessing on an individual basis is crucial, as each child is on his or her own educational journey.
Assessments address objectives in the following developmental and learning areas:
- Social Emotional
- Physical
- Language
- Cognitive
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Science and Technology
- Social Studies
- The Arts
Early childhood assessments provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to evaluate where students have grown, and where there are further opportunities.