The best of early childhood news!
Welcome to the latest issue of the award winning ECA WebWatch. This issue features the start of the 2011 school year.
In this issue:
- DEEWR Office of Early Education and Child Care—local emergency flood information
- supporting children families and services affected by the floods
- Australian schools unite with SchoolAid to ease flooding pain—17 February, 2011
- new higher education places for early childhood teachers
- National Quality Framework (NQF) information forums—presentation and report
- why business should support early childhood education
- enhanced early childhood education pays long-term dividends in better health
- child care contributes to the development of better language skills
- Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) online
- the 3Rs ease the pressure of back-to-school costs for families
- key messages from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) publications in 2010
Plus regular ECA WebWatch items:
- Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program update
- quality–assured early childhood resources
- ECA Greenwatch
- find ECA on Facebook!
DEEWR Office of Early Education and Child Care—local emergency flood information
For the latest news, alerts on the floods happening in states across Australia, and Government assistance available to support families and early education services afflicted by the floods, please visit the DEEWR Office of Early Education and Child Care
Local emergency flood information page.
Supporting children families and services affected by the floods
The devastating floods which still threaten some areas of Australia, will leave an enduring mark on our communities and the land. But what about the psychological mark that it leaves on the minds and hearts of young children? ECA WebWatch special floods edition offers some resources that may help parents, carers and early childhood practitioners to understand children’s perceptions of catastrophic events, and to offer appropriate support.
Australian schools unite with SchoolAid to ease flooding pain—17 February, 2011
‘Australian schools are being urged to unite with SchoolAid to support its Floods Relief Appeal and take part in a National Relief Appeal Day by observing a minute’s silence and donating gold coins’. Get your school involved to help communities that have been devastated by floods!
New higher education places for early childhood teachers
In a media release by Senator Christopher Evans and Minister Kate Ellis it was announced that an extra 220 higher education places will be allocated to early childhood teaching courses with higher education providers for 2011.
National Quality Framework (NQF)
Information forums—presentation and report
‘In November 2010, DEEWR together with state and territory governments conducted National Quality Framework (NQF) public information forums around the country, visiting all capital cities and several regional centres’. Read DEEWR’s report on the Forums. The presentation delivered at the Forums can also be accessed on the following resource page.
Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program update
EYLF PLP Survey
Many thanks to all those people who took part in the online EYLF Professional Learning Program survey. We are pleased to announce the winner of the Apple iPad prize—Kate Pike from Brisbane! Congratulations Kate, we hope that the iPad will be a great companion as you endeavor to implement the EYLF.
The official EYLF PLP Facebook page
Join us on our new EYLF PLP Facebook page, a great place to connect with the early childhood community and take advantage of our new weekly ‘Thinking practice series’—short reflections designed to provide readers with a constant source of thought provoking inspiration as they implement the EYLF.
The following quote comes from postings on the EYLF PLP Facebook wall:
'I have found the biggest issue so far is the educators’ resistance to change; the fear that what they are doing is "not good enough". As the Director I have been trying to encourage staff (who are keen to learn!) to embrace the change and use trial and error…'
Read the full comment left by this contributor, and keep up-to-date on the constant flow of comments about the EYLF from practitioners around Australia on the EYLF PLP Facebook page.
EYLF PLP Forum
The EYLF PLP Forum has become an important online hub for like-minded individuals to talk about the EYLF. The Forum now has over 400 members! Have your say on hot topics such as Planning and Documenting on the EYLF PLP Forum.
‘Talking about practice series’, formerly referred to as ‘Master Classes’
The format of the EYLF PLP ‘Talking about practice series’ of videos (formerly referred to as ‘Master Classes’) is currently being updated and the new versions will be launched in 2011. However due to popular demand, two of the original beta version videos of the EYLF PLP Talking about practice series—EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Intentional teaching and EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Play based learning—have been made available online until the launch of the newer versions.
We have received some really positive feedback on the Talking about practice series:
'The vignettes are a lovely demonstration of the relationship the children have with each other, the sense of belonging to this place in the ease in which these children are engaging in the environment and with the educator. I believe Lennie provides a great framework on which to discuss play and create new thinking about the places and spaces we create for and with children. I can see these types of vignettes creating a new space for more robust and reflective discussions.'
Kym Groth, Family Day Care Association Qld
Why business should support early childhood education
This American Institute for Competitive Workforce (ICW) publication Ready, Set, Go! Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education, highlights the ‘tremendous impact that early childhood education has on the national economic security’ and holds that the investment into childcare education ‘on the part of American businesses is imperative to the success of the American workforce’.
Enhanced early childhood education pays long-term dividends in better health
A long-term study carried out by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States, has linked intensive education intervention programs for low-income children starting in infancy, with significantly better health and better health behaviors as young adults.
Child care contributes to the development of better language skills
A study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health of nearly 20,000 children, has revealed that children in formal child care and family-based child care have better language skills. Read the full article in Science Daily.
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) online
Now the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) is being published online for subscribers, along with an annex of even more articles. If you are an AJEC subscriber and have not yet received your ‘AJEC online’ email notification, along with access passwords, please register to receive AJEC online.
Notice: It has come to our attention that a mistake has occurred on the cover of AJEC Vol. 35 No.4. Articles from AJEC Vol. 34 No.4 were printed on the cover of AJEC Vol. 35 No.4. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, we cannot alter the printed version but we have updated subscribers’ online version. If you wish to read the articles stated on the cover of the printed version these can be accessed for free at: www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/#AJEC34.
The 3Rs ease the pressure of back-to-school costs for families
‘Adopting the 3Rs of literacy and numeracy—reading, writing and arithmetic—and the 3Rs of the environmental movement—reduce, reuse, and recycle—can help cash-strapped parents make significant savings on their children’s back-to-school costs, according to the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG)’. Read on for ways to limit back-to-school spending.
New higher education places for early childhood teachers
In a media release by Senator Christopher Evans and Minister Kate Ellis it was announced that an extra 220 higher education places will be allocated to early childhood teaching courses with higher education providers for 2011.
Key messages from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) publications in 2010
The Australian Institute of Family Studies AIFS have summarised some of the key messages published in AIFS publications in 2010. Browse the free downloadable articles here.
ECA Greenwatch
Keep Australia on board to take the garage sale trail national
‘Following the success of the Garage Sale Trail in Bondi, Sydney, Keep Australia Beautiful has teamed-up with the Garage Sale Trail organisers to take the event national on 10 April 2011.’ Why not organise a communal garage sale at your school or service—it’s a great opportunity for families to sell outgrown books and toys, and pick up some pre-loved but fresh inspiration.
Quality–assured early childhood resources
All of ECA's publications are peer-reviewed by early childhood experts, so you can be assured that all our publications are of the highest quality, and relevant to you and your work. Here are some back-to-school ideas for parents and teachers.
Your child's first year at school: A book for parents
Produced by the Australian Primary Principals Association and Early Childhood Australia, Your child's first year at school: A book for parents aims to make the first year of school a good experience for everyone.
Developing learning in early childhood: 0–8 years
This book shows how adults can support children and help them develop their early childhood learning. Uses traditional approaches, along with research and theories, to achieve a balanced early years education.
Discovering letters and sounds
Letters and sounds are the foundation blocks for communication—the pathway to success in school and life. Make early literacy learning a fun and exciting process, using activities to tune young children's ears, learn about rhymes; connect letters with sounds, and more!
Everyday learning about managing change
Life is full of changes—big and small, significant and insignificant. How we approach and cope with changes depends, to a large extent, on the experiences of our early years. The foundation of confidence and willingness to try things are built right from the start.
Seven skills for school success
Information, activities and experiences that will help children develop the skills they need to become successful learners.
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ECA WebWatch - Issue 106, January #2, 2011. © Early Childhood Australia.
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