All the early childhood news you need to know!

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first issue of ECA WebWatch for 2010! We at ECA trust that you had a relaxing and happy holiday season. In our feature item this fortnight, we encourage you to share your views on the latest version of the Early Years Learning Framework Educators' Guide, now available online.

Also in this issue:

• ECA conference update – call for papers now open
• New media and literacy in young children
• Draft Indigenous Education Action Plan released for public comment
• Integrating services for young children and their families

Plus:

• Quality-assured early childhood resources
• ECA Greenwatch

ECA WebWatch feature item

Early Years Learning Framework online forum – Updated Educators' Guide
The Early Years Learning Framework online forum re-opened on 11 September 2009. This is an exciting opportunity for people in the early childhood sector to share views about the draft Educators' Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework with each other and with the Australian Government.

The Educators' Guide is being developed to support implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework. It will explain, interpret and expand on the Framework for early childhood educators.

A new version of this document is now available on the online forum along with a document recording educators' stories and models of practice – The Early Years Learning Framework in Action. We would welcome your ideas, participation in online discussions and feedback on the Educators' Guide.

The Early Years Learning Framework online forum is available for registered participants. Further information on the online forum and the registration form are available at www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Pages/EarlyYearsLearningFrame work.aspx

On acceptance of your registration, you will be sent login details and the terms of use for the online forum. If you registered for the first online forum you do not need to re-register as you may log in with your existing UserID and password.

Your ECA conference update

The call for papers for the Early Childhood Australia conference is now open. It will close 31 March 2010. To make your submission, go to www.amlink.com.au/secure/html/ECA10ab s.htm

Find out more information about the call for papers.

Relations hip building in early childhood and with policy-makers
2010 is an election year – it is important to keep children in the forefront of the thinking of all political parties: Not just office bearers and Ministers but local members as well. Make sure your local members of parliament know their local children's services.

New media and literacy in young children

Literacy instruction with digital and media technologies
'This article describes how digital and media literacies are woven into a fourth-grade classroom. Background on how a teacher and school brought new literacies to students through the use of technology is revealed so that other teachers can engage in similar instructional support.'

Improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students

Draft Indigenous Education Action Plan released for public comment
The draft Indigenous Education Action Plan outlines activities that will be undertaken at the national, state and local level to close the gap between the educational outcomes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

It focuses on action across six areas that evidence shows will have the most impact on closing the gap:

• Readiness for school
• Engagement and connections
• Attendance
• Literacy and numeracy
• Leadership, quality teaching and workforce development
• Pathways to real post-school options.

New policy brief from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Integrating services for young children and their families
'In an effort to improve outcomes for young children and their families, governments in all developed nations are making efforts to integrate services more effectively. This policy brief explores the rationale behind these efforts, what is known about their effectiveness, and the implications for policy makers and practitioners.'

Free program guide from SEDL

Building and managing quality afterschool programs
A Practitioner's Guide: Building and Managing Quality Afterschool Programs is designed to share with you the practices that can help you cover it all – great programming, terrific staff, positive relationships, and plenty of resources to lead and sustain successful afterschool programs.

Produced with the support of the C.S. Mott Foundation, this guide is intended to share the insights of SEDL's National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning as well as information about both the academic and the organisational and management practices that successful afterschool programs use.

Minister launches new tool to help families budget for childcare

Childcare rates online calculator launched
Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Kate Ellis, recently launched a new tool aimed at helping families plan their budgets for childcare.

The new Child Care Estimator will show families what support they can receive from the Government under the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate schemes.

ECA Greenwatch

Nominations for the ECEEN SPROuts Awards still open!
NSW ECEEN aims to support and acknowledge those Early Childhood Services in NSW who are demonstrating outstanding commitment to promoting environmental practice and sustainability. Each project case study will be posted on NSW ECEEN's website so you can share your environmental achievements with the network, and at the same time provide inspiration to others wanting to find meaningful ways to help children connect with nature. The award winning entry will receive a cash prize to put towards future environmental projects or resources.

To enter the awards you must be a member of ECEEN. To join, visit the ECEEN website.

Quality-assured early childhood resources

All of ECA's publications are pee r-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.

Australasian Journal of Early Childhood – Vol. 34 No. 4
The final issue of AJEC for 2009 covers a wide variety of issues, offering plenty of food for thought and reflection, especially in light of the recent development of The Early Years Learning Framework.

Everyday learning about getting your buttons pushed
This book shows you how to defuse buttons so you can be the caring, nurturing parent you always expected to be. It is about understanding what happens to you in the parent-child conflict, and provides advice on how to change your reactions so they stop interfering with your parenting.

Help us expand the ECA WebWatch community
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Let us know what you think ...
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ECA WebWatch – Issue 85, January 2010. © Early Childhood Australia.