This insightful book establishes a new, democratic and participatory approach to assessment and evaluation in early childhood. By analysing the practice of assessment and evaluation within early childhood pedagogy, it provides a clear theoretical and methodological basis for this approach and a set of practical techniques for assessment & evaluation. Structured in three parts, the authors show how documentation and portfolios can be an ethical mode of conducting assessment and evaluation. Part three of this text will provide educational snapshots of countries that use a participatory approach to learning and teaching, and which include the pedagogical dimension of assessment and evaluation.

PART ONE: CONTEXT AND PRINCIPLES 1. Pedagogy development; transmissive and participatory pedagogies for mass schooling. João Formosinho and Júlia Formosinho 2. 'Pedagogy-in-Participation'; the search for a holistic praxis Júlia Formosinho and João Formosinho PART TWO: APPROACHES AND TECHNIQUES 3. The nature and purpose of assessment and evaluation within a participatory pedagogy Chris Pascal and Tony Bertram 4. Participatory methods for assessment and evaluation Chris Pascal and Tony Bertram 5. The search for a holistic approach to evaluation João Formosinho and Júlia Formosinho 6. Pedagogic documentation: uncovering solidary learning Júlia Formosinho PART THREE: PORTRAITS OF PRACTICE, CASE STUDIES FROM THREE COUNTRIES 7. Ethical principles for holistic pedagogic evaluation Júlia Formosinho, João Formosinho, Chris Pascal and Tony Bertram Case Study 1, Portugal: Why do the Omo River children paint themselves; a pedagogic evaluation Júlia Formosinho, Andreia Lima, Joana Sousa Case Study 2, Portugal: Pedagogical attunement; documenting toddler's learning Júlia Formosinho, Sara Araújo and Hélia Costa Case Study 3, A Case Study on Quality Evaluation; a comparison between a traditional and a participatory pedagogic environment Inês Machado and Júlia Formosinho Case Study 4, Brazil: How to bring children's voices into assessment reports; working with teachers at two São Paulo public preschools Maria Malta Campos and Cristina Aparecida Colasanto Case Study 5, England: The Effective Early Learning (EEL) Programme, assessment in a private day care setting Sue Ford and Chris Pascal Case Study 6 England: Participatory assessment with parents; the Accounting Early for Life Long Learning (AcE) Programme Donna Gaywood and Chris Pascal Case Study 7, England: A participatory model of assessment across a Children Centre Network Elizabeth Fee and Chris Pascal