Development of a Child Evaluation Framework for Early Childhood Services Using Deliberative Democratic Evaluation and the Mosaic Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present an evaluation design for the development of a Child Evaluation Framework (Framework). If implemented, this Framework would give four to six year old children attending early childhood services in an Australian context the capacity to impact upon the design and delivery of their early childhood service. As highlighted, the current lack of ability for children to have a voice and participate in the evaluation of their early childhood service infringes upon their rights under Article 12 of the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which calls for the child's right to freedom of expression and information, and for participation. It is hoped that the successful development and implementation of this design would advance child participation rights and child empowerment. The design utilises the principles of deliberative democratic evaluation, and methodologies advocated within the mosaic approach to researching with young children.