The SSTEW Scale has been widely used in early childhood education and care to enhance the quality of education and monitor and assess practice.It is an innovative method of assessing the process quality of an early years education environment and pedagogy. It promotes practice where staff provide sensitive, responsive relationships and high-quality interactions, which includes supporting children's social, emotional and communication skills. It also helps educators to engage children in thinking deeply, problem solving and reasoning, including items which support the four competencies: critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration, all identified as life-long skills needed for all children in the 21st century by the World Economic Forum in 2016.Including tools and a clear introduction on how to use them as part of training or on an individual basis, this book can be used by staff at all levels. It will you to take a systematic approach to evaluating and auditing the quality of any early years environment so that you can build on what you do well, and improve where you need to.This new edition includes updated information about the evidence-base for SSTEW and children's development and learning as well as the expansion of examples and supplementary information accompanying the indicators. In addition, there is a stronger focus on formative assessment and new additions to the assessment section.