Each week the Sheldon staff reviews one of our Head Start Policies & Procedures and felt it was important that families stay up to date on these as well. This quarter our focus is on Mental Health, Disability, and Child Development and Education. If you ever have any questions regarding our policies and procedures, please reach out!
Child Assessment Process
POLICY:
Staff will promote and support children’s developmental progress based upon observational, on-going assessments of each child. This policy relates to Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302.33, 1302.10
PROCEDURE:
1. All children will be screened in the areas of motor, language, cognitive, health, social & emotional development within the first 45 days of enrollment.
2. Beginning in the first week of the child’s enrollment, teaching staff will begin a period of observation. During this time, classroom teaching staff will gather information about each child’s strengths, interests and individual needs by setting up assessment activities and making ongoing observation notations (anecdotal notes).
3. The child assessment instrument, COR Advantage, is completed in accordance with the instructions to ensure consistency of scoring and validity of the results.
5. Parents will become aware of school readiness goals through the scheduling of all Education Home Visits and Parent Teacher Conferences. Teaching staff review information with parent(s) and obtain additional parent/family observations and input. Parents choose 2-3 at home activities to work on with their child(ren) which enhance school readiness skills. Parent(s) and staff identify goals based on screening, observations and assessment data and discuss the “Development and Learning Report” as well as school readiness goals.
6. Children in need of further assessment will be referred as soon as the need is evident.
7. Staff will continue to assess children’s developmental progress throughout the program year, utilizing staff and parent observations and portfolio/record entries to keep all individual assessment information current.
8. Each individual child assessment will be completed at three (3) specific times during the school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
9. A final “Home Visit” report is completed to discuss school readiness goals and document the child’s progress toward meeting his/her individual goals. Transitioning to the next level of education will be discussed as well.
