Exploring the implementation of the TIME Home Learning programme and learning trajectories of 5- to 7-year-olds: Assessment tools for literacy and numeracy

2025/11/01 by von Blottnitz, Magali
Mathematics · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills #Early Childhood Education and Development #Grade 1 #Grade R #MELA #RED INK #Reading and Literacy Development #South Africa #TIME #WELA #Wordworks #assessment tools #counting #early literacy #early mathematics #numeracy #reading #writing

paper · doi:10.60763/africarxiv/10345

openalex publication_date 2025/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/12/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

This brief presents and discusses two assessment tools that were developed/adapted for, and used in, the TIME longitudinal study (2022-2023): the Wordworks Early Literacy Assessment (WELA) and the Mathematics Early Learning Assessment (MELA), within the broader landscape of assessment tools available in South Africa for 5-7 year olds. The brief starts by reviewing which other tools existed for that age band at the time of the field study and makes the case for the adaptation of the WELA literacy tool, and the development of the MELA mathematics tool. It then explains briefly how the MELA was developed and how the WELA was adapted for the purpose of the study, including rounds of piloting and adjusting. Finally, it unpacks lessons learned from using them, and room for further development of those tools.

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