Parent teacher evening 20/2/12

Welcome to our parent evening! Objectives: Inform parents about our programming and educational tools Familiarize with other families Split into appropriate rooms to discuss any further points about individual children

Kidzville Program Early Years Learning Framework EYLF – Belonging, Being & Becoming The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) reform agenda for early childhood education and care and is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. The Early Years Learning Framework has been developed collaboratively by the Australian and State and Territory Governments with substantial input from the early childhood sector and early childhood academics It was developed in order to provide a nationally consistent and high quality program for children within group or individual settings. Places strong emphasis on play-based learning. Recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. Highlights the importance of family input to the program to ensure that individual children’s interests and needs are met. Made up of the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school.

The key components include: Principles… The key components include: Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships Partnerships – Between families, centre staff, & the community High expectations and equity Respect for diversity – in relation to gender, race, religion, beliefs or sexuality Ongoing learning and reflective practice – for children, families and teachers

Practices… There are many teaching practices that our educators use to support children’s learning and development: adopting holistic approaches being responsive to children planning and implementing learning through play intentional teaching creating physical and social learning environments that have a positive impact on children’s learning valuing the cultural and social contexts of children and their families providing for continuity in experiences and enabling children to have successful transition assessing and monitoring children’s learning to inform provision and to support children in achieving learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity The EYLF Framework outlines 5 learning outcomes for supporting children’s developing holistic skills: Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

All concepts of EYLF interlink

How is play learning? Play is a context for learning that: allows for the expression of personality and uniqueness enhances dispositions such as curiosity and creativity enables children to make connections between prior experiences and new learning assists children to develop relationships and concepts stimulates a sense of wellbeing.

HOW DO WE PROGRAM? We have a range of tools that we use to document assess, plan and evaluate children’s learning and development. Each room has their own program! Monthly Program Daily Parent Communication Diary Interest Wall Learning Stories Observations Family input

What is the Interest wall? Our centre philosophy is based on free play learning activities that link to children’s individual interests. The interest wall contains observations about children’s individual and group interests, the activities we have planned to extend these interests, and the conversations/scenarios that arise from creating interest based areas. You may also find information about specific interests posted on the walls of your child’s class room near the interest areas. Please note that we are no longer working on a day book documentation system and our observations are all focused in interest groups.

What is family input? Our program relies heavily on input from families to keep the activities fresh and exciting. Although we observe many developing interests constantly, we do not get to see the experiences you have at home and we believe these moments are precious and should be celebrated! Shoushan has emailed forms out to families so that all can easily access and bring in new information for us all of the time. These forms can be filled out by siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents...anyone who has shared time with your child involved in something wonderful.

What is a learning story? Learning stories may be found posted on the walls in interest areas of your child’s room. These stories tell the background of experiences we explore, the learning that takes place, and the interactions we have with our peers, community or environment.

What is a program? This has the entire groups interests, extensions and planned activities documented. The program rolls over a monthly cycle. The program revolves largely around what information you provide to the teachers about your child’s experiences at home. Teachers then add extensions for learning opportunities that link to these home experiences.

What is an observation? An observation is essentially an individual documentation (sometimes accompanied by photograph) of a specific action or scenario of a specific child or children that has taken place. Teachers collect a series of observations of your child throughout the year to organise what activities they will provide for your child to explore.

What other information is there? Parent Information Space Here you will find your child’s portfolio which contains individual information about your child’s learning at the centre. On the shelf you will also find teacher reflections, and past program information. You can access articles about children’s learning and development, and you can also retrieve forms for medication. Please ask if you need any assistance. Portfolios are in the midst of being built electronically and so please bear with us while we are getting this function up and running. In the long term it will mean that you can access your child’s portfolio online any day, any time!

Any questions???

reminders: Please ensure you are changing your child’s nappy or taking them to the toilet on arrival every day as this helps with the settling process and allows carers to be readily available to settle children. Please label all clothing as items can easily be mixed up Signing in and out is extremely important, please do so every day Please remember to bring a top and bottom bed sheet for your child’s week at the centre Please provide at least 2 changes of clothes on each day of attendance

Final points We use EYLF as our base for guiding children’s learning We use a variety of observation tools to discover children’s interests We have many means for documenting holistic learning experiences