There are many people other than the teacher who can provide information and participate in the observation, assessment and program planning for pre-primer children. More voices provide more “windows” to look through and will enrich your assessment, making results more valid and reliable. Potential observers/assessors include:
*Other staff working with a child, even part-time assistants, “floaters,” or playground aides. Each staff member may have an important piece of the puzzle—one that is needed to fit it all together authentically.
*Specialists and other professionals who work with the child, such as those in heath care, therapists, and/or staff from other programs the child attends. Be sure to have a written Release of Information from parents so you have legal permission to discuss their child with other professionals.
*Parents and family members can be more than permission slip signers and passive recipients of observation information. Family participation can enrich the process, since no one knows a young child better than the people who raise her/him. The child’s family can actively participate in their child’s assessment in many ways—as sources of information, observers, and more. Provide parents with questionnaires, recording forms, and/or interviews so they can share their insights, opinions, and goals for their child.
There are other benefits for children when families are involved in early learning assessments; “the very process of completing scales can inform parents about the kinds of behaviors and milestones that are important in young children’s development” (Epstein, Schweinhart & DeBruin-Parecki, 2004). Early parental participation also leads to family's involvement in their child’s future education.
The children can (and should) participate in their own assessments. Their right to be involved is spelled out in Article 12 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which states that any child “who is capable of forming his or her own views (has) the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.” Ways that children can be involved include the following: