Additional Notes for Clarification of the Updated ECERS-R

In 2005, the new updated edition of the ECERS-R was published by TC Press. Featuring a new spiral binding, the updated ECERS-R offers more practical assistance in the form of additional notes for clarification and an Expanded Score Sheet, which incorporates notes and tables to assist in scoring. However, the items and indicators remain the same as in the original ECERS-R. These notes were developed by Thelma Harms and Debby Cryer to improve the interrater agreements among North Carolina Rated License Assessors.  These notes do not change any of the requirements in the printed scales, they merely add additional information to help in accurate scoring.   Be sure to replace older notes with newer notes. Most recent changes are in blue: 10/26/09: Items # 4 and 5

         Item                                                            Note

4.  Room arrangement

1.2, 3.2 A room arrangement that is divided into interest areas or centers, using shelves or other furniture, can be given credit as being “not difficult to supervise visually” as long as teachers move about the spaces used by the children so that they can see each child frequently enough to ensure that each child is safe, and so that they can interact with children when needed. Credit can be given even though they may not see all children at all times. However, the ages, abilities, and impulsiveness of the children must be considered when scoring. Older, less impulsive children require less visual supervision than younger or more impulsive children. In addition, slight problems with the room shape, for example, a slight extension, (not a full L- shape) of the room, or the existence of pillars, that create small blind areas are acceptable as long as they are well-supervised frequently enough to meet children’s needs. To score, observe the relationship between the teachers’ supervision and the room arrangement to see if children are adequately supervised visually.

5.  Space for privacy

For a definition of space for privacy see All About the ECERS-R, pp. 35, 39, 40. 3.2   All spaces used for privacy must be easily supervised by staff. Any space for privacy that a child uses is considered easily supervised by staff if the space is open enough to allow visual supervision. It is not required that the teachers can see the space(s) at all times, as long as teachers move about the room and can see the spaces for privacy used by the children frequently enough to ensure that each child is safe. To score, observe the relationship between the teachers’ supervision and how spaces for privacy are used to see if children are adequately supervised. The ages, abilities, and impulsiveness of the children must be considered when scoring. Older, less impulsive children require less visual supervision than younger or more impulsive children.

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