National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program

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About the NQS PLP

The National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program (NQS PLP) is a Commonwealth of Australia initiative developed and implemented by Early Childhood Australia in 2011-2012.

The NQS PLP is an expansion of the Commonwealth of Australia-funded Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program (EYLF PLP) to incorporate the National Quality Standard (NQS). The aim is to support early childhood educators to further embed the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in their daily practice as a key element in achieving the NQS.

The NQS PLP will assist the early childhood education and care community through:

an online interactive Forum available to educators and early childhood professionals across early education and care settings
an online fortnightly e-Newsletter that connects the NQS to practice
a series of online e-Learning Videos focused on aspects of the NQS and EYLF: the Talking about practice series
a series of short NQS and EYLF professional learning vignettes: the Connecting with practice series
a vibrant social media community on Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms, supported by discussions around thought-provoking articles (What do you think?), reflections on practice (Thinking about practice) and snippets of practice videos (Observing practice series and Have you thought about … ? series)
free articles from ECA publications and other supporting resources.

The Professional Learning Program has also provided a national program of 65 EYLF workshops around the country.

The EYLF Professional Learning Workshops

A national program of EYLF Professional Learning Workshops were held in rural, regional and metropolitan areas from March to August 2011. The goal of the workshops was to deepen educators’ understanding of the EYLF and build their capacity to implement it in their settings. The workshops provided opportunities for professional conversation and reflection, with the potential to improve EYLF delivery and outcomes in an ongoing way. All participants received copies of the six ECA EYLF publications plus the ECA Code of Ethics. These provided tangible ongoing support for the implementation of the EYLF. Click here to access the workshop materials, including the PowerPoint presentation, videos, worksheets and a guide on how to use these resources to deliver the EYLF PLP Workshop to your staff and colleagues.

The NQS PLP interactive online Forum

The interactive online Forum aims to support educators in confronting the opportunities and challenges of working in the current and changing environment. Early childhood professionals with different areas of expertise will regularly create and respond to postings and encourage other educators to be part of the EYLF online community. The aims of the Forum are to focus on the questions about the EYLF and NQS raised in the Forum and on the NQS PLP Facebook page, as well as to have regular, topical, responsive posts and comments that focus on quality outcomes for all young children. Click here to go to the NQS PLP Forum

An NQS PLP e-Newsletter

Free EYLF PLP folder display label and cover
Download a free folder spine display label and cover for your EYLF PLP e-Newsletters. The display label and cover have been designed to help you organise your EYLF PLP e-Newsletters in a folder for staff and families to access. Simply print and insert the cover in the front of a ring bound folder and slide the label down the spine of the folder.

The EYLF PLP 'Talking about practice' series

The EYLF PLP Talking about practice series of e-Learning videos provides an opportunity for leaders in ECEC services to discuss ideas about significant issues related to the EYLF. A range of early childhood scenarios are used to inspire these professional conversations.

The growing collection of Talking about practice videos includes:

EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Intentional teaching
EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Reflecting on practice
EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Environments for learning
EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Environments for belonging, being and becoming
EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Planning and Documentation
EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Partnerships with families

Due to popular demand, the original beta version video of the EYLF PLP Talking about practice: Play-based learning is still available online.

The ‘Connecting with practice – EYLF and NQS’ series of twelve short service practice and training videos

The development of these professional learning vignettes feature short sequences of practice viewed from a range of EYLF and NQS perspectives. These will provide educators who work alone or in small settings with a learning experience that mimics a professional group conversation. They may also be used as a professional learning tool in staff meetings or training institutions.

Discovering—Making Connections
Discovering—Storytime transition to naptime
Discovering—Routines around lunch
Opportunities for learning in natural spaces
Relaxed conversation during fruit time
Discovering—Sustained,shared conversation
Discovering—What do you see?
Engaging with babies and toddlers

Resources

Free videos

Observing practice series of video vignettes

The Observing practice series of vignettes asks educators to closely observe and describe the interactions, play, environment and learning taking place. This series is also available for viewing and discussion on the NQS PLP Facebook page.

Story Time
Preparing Lunch
Learning to take risks
Mixed age grouping
Linking literacy learning through outdoor play
Indoor time with toddlers
Preschoolers' group time
Arrival time
Creating with clay and natural materials
Inspired to draw—a visit to the art gallery
Whose turn is it? Marking the roll
Finger paint—a great sensory experience
Preschool conversations—Engaging with pets
Quiet time after sleep
Toddlers sleep time transition to afternooon tea
Engaging a child's interests—conversing about dinosaurs
Enthusiastic educator—teaching a new song
Exploring the world through the eye of a camera
Reinforcing number concepts with technology
Making literacy connections—sample materials to print
Children are capable and competent—time with a pet snake!
Recreating a familiar story with puppets

Have you thought about...? series of video vignettes

Have you thought about your practice lately? ECA's new series of professional learning videos, Have you thought about ... ? takes us around Australia in search of ways we can think about implementing the EYLF and approaching the National Quality Standard. A range of ECEC experts will be logging the Have you thought about ... ? vodcasts, discussing the moments that have required and inspired them to reflect on practice. They encourage us to do the same. These videos are released each second Thursday on the NQS PLP Facebook page..

Have you thought about...? Sustained conversations with children
Have you thought about...? How we utilise space?
Have you thought about...? Including indigenous perspectives in early childhood environments
Have you thought about...? What are children telling us when they cry?
Have you thought about...? How does your environment provide the opportunity to run?
Have you thought about...? Learning both ways
Have you thought about...? Aesthetics of the learning environment

Facebook What do you think? free articles by Anne Stonehouse

Free Articles

Free articles from the EYLF Play and Learning issue of Every Child, Vol 16, No 3 2010:
Why play-based learning? by Lennie Barblett [PDF 140KB]

Implementing the EYLF: An evolving story by Wendy Forster [PDF 150KB]

Free article from Every Child, Vol 16, No 4 2010:
Starting right by Alison Elliott and Holly Quain

Free article from Every Child, Vol 17, No 1 2011:
Building on what children know by Jenni Connor [PDF 232KB]
Social and emotional learning as a basis for curriculum by Pam Linke [PDF 280KB]

Free articles from Every Child, Vol 17, No 2 2011:
Developing a space for belonging by Carmel Richardson [PDF 396KB]
Catering to diversity [PDF 306KB]

Free articles from Every Child, Vol 17, No 3 2011:
EYLF and NQS: Political, educational, social and individual influences: What has been our journey? by Ginie Udy [PDF 318KB]
Learning Stories: One way to assess and report—professionals and children working together by Mel Hazard [PDF 410KB]
Ethical assessment by Sue Dockett [PDF 271KB]

Free articles from Every Child, Vol 17, No 4 2011:
Thinking about place... by Carmel Richardson [PDF 389kb]
Intentional teaching, child-centred curriculum and the EYLF by Anthony Shearer and Stacey Lenihan [PDF 366kb]

Free articles from Every Child, Vol 18, No 1 2012:
Indigenous culture: It's everybody's business by Jo Goodwin [PDF 701kb]
Collaborating with families: Not a problem! by Anne Stonehouse [PDF 681kb]

Free sample chapters

Free sample chapters from Early Childhood Australia's Research in Practice Series:

The National Quality Standard: Getting started by Joy Goodfellow (PDF 949KB)
The National Quality Standard: Building confident learners by Leonie Arthur (PDF 3.18MB)
Stars are made of glass: Children as capable and creative communicators—Supporting the National Quality Standard by Leonie Arthur, Felicity McArdle and Marina Papic (PDF 2.57MB)
Learning and teaching through play—Supporting the National Quality Standard by Anne Kennedy and Lennie Barblett (PDF 2.93MB)

Other Resources

Myths and realities, a document created to explain all the myths that have grown up around the EYLF and NQS and each myth's corresponding 'reality', in order to provide educators with clear and accurate information about what the NQS and EYLF means for them and their work.

Including Aboriginal Australia in your service

Y Chart—What does ‘belonging’ look like, sound like,feel like around here? Put up the Y Chart and invite families to add to the chart from their perspectives. Download the A4 version of the Y chart which first appeared in the the EYLF PLP e-newsletter No.5

Reviewing Practice Reflection Tool: Planning, documenting and assessing children's learning—originally featured in EYLF PLP e-Newsletter 16: Reviewing Practice.


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National Quality StandardProfessional Learning Program