Current issues in assessment in early childhood care and education in Japan.

This paper introduces the characteristics of early childhood care and education (ECCE) assessment and identifies current challenges and changes in the assessment of ECCE in Japan. There are differences in assessment between ECCE and elementary school education. Assessment in ECCE is used to focus on making better plans, improving the understanding of children and improving one's professional skills in Japan. However, the challenges from elementary schools, including commercialism, and various family expectations have forced changes in ECCE attitudes towards assessment. This research suggests that the goals of assessment should be to ensure that institutions are administered in a way that provides the most appropriate practice and environment for the development of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]