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Early Childhood Australia has been contracted by Teaching Australia to develop the Advanced Teaching Standards for early childhood.
ECA is calling for expressions of interest from early childhood degree-qualified teachers to take part in this exciting initiative:
- to provide advice on the validity and usefulness of the draft advanced teaching capabilities in the national standards
- to develop, in partnership with Teaching Australia and with the involvement of early childhood teachers, national professional standards for advanced early childhood teaching for children from three to eight years of age.
Applications are due by COB (AEDT) Friday 16 January 2009.
View the Frequently Asked Questions for the Advanced Teaching Standards.
Why develop early childhood advanced teaching standards?
The development of these standards will provide inspiration and guidance to early childhood teachers, and will increase public recognition of the complexity and rigour of the work of exemplary early childhood teachers.
One of the markers of a profession is that it develops its own standards. ECA will be working with early childhood teachers to ensure that these standards are developed by the profession for the profession.
To find out more about the role of professional standards and the process for their development, visit Teaching Australia – Standards and follow the links.
What is the process for the development of the early childhood advanced teaching standards?
- A small Working Group of nine exemplary early childhood teachers will be responsible for developing the initial draft descriptors for each of the capabilities listed in Teaching Australia’s National Professional Standard for Advanced Teachers and Principals (PDF, retrieved 30 November 2008). The Working Group will hold two meetings, with other work done electronically.
- A Writing Sub-Group, comprising members of the Working Group, will produce the working drafts with feedback from the full Working Group.
- Consultations on the draft standards will be held in all states/territories and via online forums, and early childhood teachers will also be able to give online feedback.
- The amended descriptors will then be validated by a small number of early childhood teachers working within different early childhood settings.
Expressions of interest
ECA is calling for expressions of interest from early childhood trained teachers of children aged three to eight years. A number of roles are available:
- Membership of the Working Group
- Membership of the Writing Sub-Group, which will include two writers from the Working Group
- Involvement in the consultation process
- Joining the update list to be kept informed of the development of the advanced teaching standards
Applicants who are not successful will be invited to be indentified respondents in the consultation process.
ECA hopes services/schools/organisations will encourage people to nominate and promote the development process.
Selection Criteria for Working Group
- Qualifications (early childhood education degree essential)
- Teaching experience
- Professional association membership
- Evidence of accomplished teaching (e.g. awards, letters of support)
- Evidence of ongoing professional learning
- Currently employed to teach young children aged between three and eight years.
- High-level written and verbal communication skills
The over-riding consideration will be the capability of the person as an exemplary early childhood teacher.
To apply
Please complete the Advanced Teaching Standards Expression of Interest form and return to Early Childhood Australia:
By email: applications@earlychildhood.org.au
By mail:
Early Childhood Australia
Advanced Teaching Standards
PO Box 7105
Watson ACT 2602
Applications are due by COB (AEDT) Friday 16 January 2009.
Representation
ECA seeks to include representation from a range of settings and locations, including:
- Preschool
- Kindergarten
- Pre-primary
- Long day care
- Early years of primary school
- All states and territories
- Five metropolitan, three regional and one remote setting
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Expectations of Working Group members
Membership of the Working Group involves a commitment to:
- attend meetings in Canberra (currently set for 21–22 February and 5–6 September 2009)
- provide written/electronic feedback on drafts
- respond and support the writing team as needed
- participate in face-to-face consultation meetings in their state or territory.
In addition, members of the Writing Sub-Group are expected to:
- attend two additional meetings in Canberra (currently set for 20–22 March and 4 September 2009).
- respond in timely ways with written feedback as required.
NB. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered. Relief time is not included.
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