Questions of quality : proceedings of a conference on defining, assessing and supporting quality in early childhood care and education / edited by Heino Schonfeld, Sharon O'Brien and Thomas Walsh.

CW105

CW718

CW748

Includes bibliographical references.

[PART 1 Keynote Address] Structure and stability of the early childhood environment rating scale / R. Clifford -- Questions of quality: the contribution of research evidence to definitions of quality in early childhood education and care practice / T. David -- Quality, autonomy and the profession / M. Urban.

[PART 2 Defining quality] Rethinking the computer culture with early learners / N. Bølgan -- Quality: control or autonomy? / P. Donnelly -- A critical examination of the use of fairy tale literature with pre-primary children in developmentally appropriate early childhood education and care programs / R. Doran -- Reflections on a National review of policy, research and practice in Ireland / M. Duignan -- Young children's observations about number and conventional numeric symbols / E. Dunphy -- A conceptual framework of young children's development and learning in Ireland: the implications for quality in early years care and education / J. Fallon -- A study of spontaneous drawings of young children; implications for the quality of the learning environment / M. Gallagher -- The National Children's Nurseries Association Centre of Excellence Programme: a toll for defining and assessing quality in the Irish childcare system / A. Hooper -- Children playing in nature / K.M. Eid Kaarby -- Defining, assessing and supporting quality in early childhood care and education: The High/Scope Ireland model / I. Madigan -- Policy, legislation and practice for children with special needs in Ireland / M. Meaney -- Promoting diversity and equality in early childhood care, education and training - the "éist" project / C. Murray -- Promoting diversity and equality in early childhood care, education and training - men in childcare / J. Peeters -- Quality; a global issue: an international review of quality in early childhood care and education 1990-2004 / T. Walsh.

[PART 3 Assessing quality] Improvement through self-evaluation in preschool education / Ffiona Crawford -- A critique of ECERS as a measure of quality in early childhood education and care / F. Douglas -- Universal early education for 4-6 year olds in Ireland: the experience of the Irish primary teacher / A. Griffin, A. Fay and D. Nic Craith -- Listening and learning: empowering children in early childhood services / M. Hart -- Observation methodology in preschool programme evaluation: the early start experience / M. Lewis and P. Archer -- Assessing teacher's performance in pre-primary and primary schools in Estonia / I. Mannamaa -- Quality and regulation in early childhood care and education: a study of the impact of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations (1996) on the Quality of Early Childhood services in Ireland / M. O'Kane -- The relationship between preverbal behaviours and language development: investigating symbolic play and language development in children with Down Syndrome / C. O'Toole -- Development of standards and measurement tools for quality assurance systems in Australian children's services / D. Taylor -- Involving children in their own learning: report of an action research project on formative assessment / B. Yeats -- Defining, assessing and supporting the quality of education and care for babies and toddlers in centre based childcare / P. Winter.

[PART 4 Supporting quality] Evaluating "better beginnings": a family literacy program in Australia / C. Barratt-Pugh, M. Rohl and J. Elderfield -- Supporting play - supporting quality / C. Brennan -- Integrated therapeutic group work with young children in a family support setting / M. Daly, K. Smith and E. Nulty -- Interdisciplinary team assessment: CRC style / R. Glennane, T. Morrison, J. Oswell and A. Timothy -- Music and play: diverse aspects of 4-6 year olds self initiated musical play / C. Gluschankof -- "You and me and the two of us!" A framework for increasing social competence in children in nursery schools and some examples of how to support children developing social competence through dramatic play / S. Hauge and K. Lamer -- Supporting quality through targeted research on special needs and disadvantage / A. McDonnell -- Supporting quality through the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 / P. Moreau -- Building a system of professional development through the use of teacher standards as a means of supporting quality teaching practices / S. Olmore, L. Franova, V. Sneberger and T. Vonta -- Reconceptualising community playgroups in Ireland / N. Spring, M. Daly, T. Byrne and J. Whyte -- Quality and teacher turnover related to a childcare workforce development initiative / K. Thornburg and P. Pearl -- Building blocks to best practice - introducing an "integrated holistic model" of early intervention with children and families / M. Walls and M. O'Connor.

[PART 5 Concluding observations] Questions on quality: some concluding observations / N. Hayes.

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