Melhuish, Edward Prof.

<p>This line of research focuses on how to easily, accurately and playfully pinpoint young children’s progress and needs in foundational areas of development (e.g., self-regulation), and leverage this information to support children’s continued development. This culminated in creation of the iPad-based <em>Early Years Toolbox</em> (www.eytoolbox.com.au), which is in use in educational and research contexts internationally.</p><p>The EYT approach to early assessment has instigated a shift away from the concentration of expertise and tools among a limited base of professionals, to instead empower those who spend the most time with young children (e.g., educators) and have the greatest opportunity to shift children’s trajectories. Specifically, our research has shown that EYT tools yield valid, reliable, sensitive and actionable information when used by pre-school educators after only a brief induction. For children, these feel like playful activities. For educators, they provide immediate and high-quality information about each child’s abilities and needs, to inform ongoing planning and practice. The EYT philosophy of barrier-free access for all who could benefit (available on the iTunes App Store) contrasts often expensive and time-consuming commercial tools.</p><p>EYT assessments have now been accessed by >11,000 users across more than 50 countries and 5 continents, and have been translated into more than a dozen languages (in collaboration with requesting institutions around the world). EYT has been used with more than 12,000 children in Australia, and greater numbers abroad, with mounting international evidence of its positive impact for educators, children and families.<br /><br /><strong>UOW Participants: </strong>A/Prof Steven Howard, Prof Ted Melhuish, A/Prof Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, Prof Marc de Rosnay<br /><br /><strong>Partner Organisations:</strong> Early Start, Our Place (Victoria), Goodstart Early Learning</p>

<p>This line of research focuses on how to easily, accurately and playfully pinpoint young children’s progress and needs in foundational areas of development (e.g., self-regulation), and leverage this information to support children’s continued development. This culminated in creation of the iPad-based <em>Early Years Toolbox</em> (www.eytoolbox.com.au), which is in use in educational and research contexts internationally.</p><p>The EYT approach to early assessment has instigated a shift away from the concentration of expertise and tools among a limited base of professionals, to instead empower those who spend the most time with young children (e.g., educators) and have the greatest opportunity to shift children’s trajectories. Specifically, our research has shown that EYT tools yield valid, reliable, sensitive and actionable information when used by pre-school educators after only a brief induction. For children, these feel like playful activities. For educators, they provide immediate and high-quality information about each child’s abilities and needs, to inform ongoing planning and practice. The EYT philosophy of barrier-free access for all who could benefit (available on the iTunes App Store) contrasts often expensive and time-consuming commercial tools.</p><p>EYT assessments have now been accessed by >11,000 users across more than 50 countries and 5 continents, and have been translated into more than a dozen languages (in collaboration with requesting institutions around the world). EYT has been used with more than 12,000 children in Australia, and greater numbers abroad, with mounting international evidence of its positive impact for educators, children and families.<br /><br /><strong>UOW Participants: </strong>A/Prof Steven Howard, Prof Ted Melhuish, A/Prof Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, Prof Marc de Rosnay<br /><br /><strong>Partner Organisations:</strong> Early Start, Our Place (Victoria), Goodstart Early Learning</p>