Description

Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning through Play   

We are delighted to bring you Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning through Play to deepen understanding and provide inspiration to teachers, leaders and educators in Early Childhood settings. We explore the importance of reflective and responsive practice, creating quality environments, intentional teaching and observing, analysing and monitoring children's progress in all areas.

This session is SCHOOL READINESS FUNDING APPROVED in Victoria, NESA Accredited in NSW, and Kindy Uplift supported in Queensland.

Participants will:

• Observe best practice in-action from a variety of Australian ECE settings.
• Develop a deeper understanding of child development in the 2 to 6 year-olds.
• Explore the importance of relational pedagogy and connecting with families and caregivers.
• Build skills and confidence to involve and communicate effectively with parents and families.
• Participants will consider equity, diversity and inclusion in their own context.

This session complements Early Life Foundation's original Early Childhood Play Matters and Creating Engaging Environments for Pre-schoolers. It references practices and principles from EYLF version 2. Current research, relevant to play and child development, and a deeper look at what 2 to 6 year-old children need for social, emotional, and language development are a cornerstone of this PD.

Participants will view segments of video footage and commentary of pedagogy 'in action' through a virtual study tour of early childhood settings showcasing examples of play-based learning and examples of Walker Learning core elements introduced in Early Childhood Play matters. Opportunities for guided professional conversation and discussions around play-based pedagogy and priority areas of wellbeing, communication and inclusive practice concludes the session.

An e-booklet The Importance of Play will be available for centres to share with families and caregivers.

In recognition of the importance of professional reflection, participants are provided with an electronic workbook to reflect and share experiences as part of a professional reflective dialogue during the session. Critical reflection and ongoing professional learning are available through the purchase of coaching packages for individuals or whole teams.

A matching live online Parent session - The Imporance of Play can be purchased along with this Professional Learning session to support centres in sharing benefits of play-based learning with parents. Contact us for a quote.

** Please note: this session was previously called Early Childhood - Play in Action

NESA ACCREDITED PD
In New South Wales, Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning through Play is a NESA Accredited professional development session. Completing Early Childhood -Teaching and Learning through Play will contribute 3 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and assessment of NSW Curriculum/Early Years Learning Framework addressing standard descriptors 1.1.2 and 2.1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

SCHOOL READINESS DUNDING - VICTORIA
In Victoria, there are three priority areas for School Readiness Funding in 2023, Communication (language development), Wellbeing (social and emotional), and Access & Inclusions. Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning through Play is school Readiness Funding approved across all three priority areas.

KINDY UPLIFT - QUEENSLAND
In Queensland, the priority areas for Kindy Uplift are Social and Emotional Capability, Physicality, Thinking and Resounding, Oral Language and Communication & Access and Inclusion.  Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning through Play strongly align with all five priority areas.