Assessment makes valued learning visible. Kaiako use assessment to find out what children know and can do, what interests them, how their learning is progressing, what might be the next step, and to identify areas in which they may need additional support. Formative assessment – assessment that strengthens learning – may be in the moment or documented.

Assessment documentation records evidence of individual children’s learning progress in relation to the learning outcomes of Te Whāriki. It is used for curriculum planning, and for informing children, parents and whānau, other kaiako, and external support agencies about learning and progress over time.

Kaiako use knowledge gained from assessment to make the teaching and learning more effective and enhance curriculum implementation. Assessment practices will reflect the principles of Te Whāriki, considering the whole child and the whole curriculum.

Narrative forms of assessment such as learning stories make use of a formative assessment sequence: noticing, recognising, responding, recording, and revisiting valued learning. The links in this section go to useful frameworks for narrative assessment that are consistent with the vision of Te Whāriki.