The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) is the tool used for assessing the quality of provision for children aged 2½ to 5 years in centre-based settings.

The Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ITERS-R) is the ‘partner’ scale for the 0-2½ age range.

Both scales offer comprehensive statements or ‘indicators’ with which to assess the quality of the environment in its broadest sense. These indicators stack up like building blocks to celebrate strengths and signpost to possible improvements. They also provide a rigorous means of measuring quality - and improvement in quality - over time.

The ECERS-R and ITERS-R consider seven broad dimensions of quality:

• Space and furnishings (e.g. room layout, accessibility of resources, display)
• Personal care routines (e.g. welfare requirements such as health & safety and provision for sleeping)
• Language and reasoning (e.g. supporting children’s communication, language and literacy development; critical thinking)
• Activities (e.g. provision of an exciting and accessible learning environment, resources to support specific types of play)
• Interaction (e.g. supervision, support for social interactions, the ‘ emotional environment’)
• Programme structure (e.g. opportunities for children to access their own curriculum, planning schedules/routines to meet children’s needs)
• Provision for parents and staff (e.g. partnership with parents, staff training and development)

The ECERS-R and ITERS-R were developed by Thelma Harms, Richard Clifford and Debby Cryer at the University of North Carolina.