48 pages
A5
ISBN-10: 1 85856 009 8
ISBN-13: 978 185856 009 0

Baseline Assessment has become one of the most controversial issues in British education. The case in favour is strong: how National Curriculum assessment at age seven and beyond meaningful if children's capability at the start of schooling is unknown? Without this information children, parents and teachers can have no knowledge of the added value of schooling.

The case against argues that 'labelling' at the start of schooling is a self-fulfilling process likely to be discriminatory and diminishing for the very children who can best be helped by schooling.

Sheila Wolfendale examines and analyses these issues in the second pamphlet of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) published by Trentham Books.