The current study examined the reliability and applicability of the Chinese translated versions of the
Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale –Revised (ECERS-R) and Early Childhood Environment
Rating Scale –Extension (ECERS-E) as formative tools for use by local practitioners to perform selfevaluations
on the various aspects of the educational environments being provided to pre-school
children in their own settings with the goal of helping to facilitate changes that may help to enhance
the quality of educational experiences for young children. Five registered kindergartens were
recruited and received trainings in the administration of the said tools by the PECERA-HK (ECERS)
professional team. Three assessment trials were administered in three different phases. For each trial,
teacher representatives from each kindergarten completed the assessment using the said tools together
with the trainers. Discussions were also held with the trainers on their observations. Internal reliability
for the tools was found to be quite robust. Qualitative findings also suggested that the ECERS-R and
ECERS-E can serve to assist practitioners in identifying the respective strengths and weaknesses in
the educational environment they were providing to children and in setting clear directions for making
corresponding improvements.