Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care: Languages of Evaluation

Quality in early childhood services (day care or nursery education) can be a contentious issue, with as many perspectives as there are interested parties. Children, parents, staff, politicians and community representatives all contribute their views to the topic. In a previous volume, "Valuing Quality in Early Childhood Services", the authors concluded that there was a need to develop creative and inclusionary processes for the definition and attainment of quality. The book seeks to respond to this need. Conveying the debate, confrontation, exchange of experience and empowerment that are central to quality developments, the authors argue that the future lies in a range of disciplines and discourses, and within a broad policy context that pays attention to children, families, employment and community development.