The Accounting Early for Life Long Learning (AcE) programme has been designed specifically to support the planning and assessment of young children’s development in two keys areas of learning. It has drawn on collaborative research with practitioners, parents and children to produce an innovative and participatory process.

The principles of AcE are:

• Records child’s competencies
• Is practitioner-led but collaboratively constructed with other professionals, parents and children;
• Is observation based, focusing on the child engaged in daily activities, with a focus on children’s play;
• Uses assessment to build a profile of the child’s holistic development over time;
• Provides evidence for the early identification of children with additional needs;
• Involves the active participation of the child and parent
• Is inclusive of all areas of development;
• Avoids ‘testing’ and labelling syndrome;
• Is a process linked directly to an early support and intervention strategy;

AcE celebrates the 'unique child' and enhances 'positive relationships', develops ‘enabling environments’ and ensures children’s ‘learning and development’ and so strengthens practice in all four themes of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

Cost: 3 day training for 25 practitioners, including materials: £12,500 (exc. VAT, venue hire, trainer travel & subsistence)