Your one-stop guide to early childhood links and resources!

Welcome to the first ECA WebWatch for 2009! Early Childhood Australia hopes you all had a relaxing festive season.

This fortnight our main feature focuses on the new Guidelines being developed to tackle childhood obesity.

Also in this issue:

• Iram Siraj-Blatchford seminars in Melbourne and Sydney
• First year of primary school
• National Quality Framework update
• Reading and writing

Plus:

• ECA calendar
• quality-assured early childhood resources
• ECA GreenWatch.

ECA WebWatch feature item

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood Settings Project

The Guidelines Project
The Guidelines Project is part of the Commonwealth Government's plan for tackling obesity from early childhood. It will develop evidence-based practical guidelines and materials to support healthy eating and physical activity in children attending early childhood education and care, including child care, pre-schools and family day care.

The Guidelines will be linked to the new National Quality Framework for ECEC services that is expected to be introduced from 1 July 2009.

Extensive and inclusive consultations with state and territory governments, child health experts, the early childhood sector and families are currently underway to inform and guide the development of the Guidelines.

Input into the Guidelines Project is welcomed from services, organisations and individuals with an interest in early childhood health. For more information, click here, or email bianca.gazzola@rch.org.au

Early Learning State Conferences 2009 – Prof Iram Siraj-Blatchford

Frameworks and foundations: When only the best will do
A special opportunity to spend a day with Prof Iram Siraj-Blatchford and Prof Collette Tayler. There will be sessions in Sydney and Melbourne.

Supporting children through their first year at school

Read a sample chapter of Your child's first year at school
Produced by the Australian Primary Principals Association and Early Childhood Australia to make the first year of school a good experience for everyone.

Learn more about Your child's first year at school

Policy development

National Quality Framework – update
The first wave of consultations on the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care have now been completed. This includes work done towards the development of the Early Years Learning Framework. More information is available from the DEEWR site, above.

The National Quality Framework Expert Advisory Panel report is now available for download.

ECA's submission to the Early Years Learning Framework is also available for download.

Children's services regulations 2009
New draft regulations in Victoria are open for consultations. They make significant gains on the current situation, with reduced staff–child ratios for babies and toddlers, and a proposed requirement that there be an early childhood teacher in all long day care services.

ECA GreenWatch

Environmental Scan Consultation Survey
The development of the 2009 Environmental Scan is now underway and you are invited to contribute your valuable knowledge to drive national policy for workforce development and to inform the ISC's work plan.

Professional development opportunities

New CHC08 Training Package
The New CHC08 Training Package was ministerially endorsed on 12 December 2008. To support the implementation of the new package the CS&H Industry Skills Council will be facilitating a series of one day forums.

Overseas Job Opportunity
The Australia China Investment Corporation has opportunities for qualified ECE professionals at kindergartens in Beijing and the greater Shanghai area.

Cybersafety

Safer Internet Day 2009
Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally on the 10th of February, and aims to raise awareness about responsible and safe use of technology for children and young people.

ACMA rolls out cybersafety program
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has started the national roll-out of a national cybersafety program designed for primary and secondary level educators.

ACMA's cybersafety products for school-aged children
ACMA have also developed several resources for especially for young people, to encourage them think for themselves about online safety.

ECA calendar

2009 NIFTeY / CCCH Conference
15–17 February 2009
Olympic Park
Melbourne

The aim of the 2009 NIFTeY/CCCH Conference is to discuss and explore issues relating to the concept of the parent–child centre.

The Early Start Denver Model – Autism Spectrum Disorder
24 February 2009
Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

Professor Sally Rogers from California's MIND Institute, UC Davis, will be presenting a one-day introductory forum to describe the theoretical and empirical framework, curriculum and teaching principles of the Early Start Denver Model.

Visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar – it's the easy way to keep track of important events, conferences and dates.

Quality-assured early childhood resources

Professional reading is an important part of early childhood advocacy and professional growth. Experienced early childhood practitioners quality assure every book sold by Early Childhood Australia.

Children as illustrators: Making meaning through art and language is a joyous exploration of visual expression combined with writing and reading.

Let's do something together: A guidebook for effective intergenerational programs includes anecdotes and tips to harness the connection between the wisdom of older generations with the eagerness of young children.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 65, February 2009. © Early Childhood Australia.