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The field of early childhood is currently undergoing a period of reconceptualisation, with significant changes imminent in the areas of curriculum, legislation and accreditation. As advocates for young children and the field of early education, Habitat Early Learning is embracing these changes as significant achievements that will result in improved outcomes for young children.
NATIONAL QUALITY FRAMEWORK
The National Quality Framework is an important reform which will deliver a higher standard of care for children in the critical areas of education, health and safety and will provide clearer and comprehensive information for families so they can choose the best services for their child.
The National Quality Framework will set a new National Quality Standard for early childhood education and care providers in Australia.
The National Quality Standard will improve quality through:
- improved staff to child ratios to ensure each child gets more individual care and attention
- new staff qualification requirements to ensure staff have the skills to help children learn and develop
- a new quality rating system to ensure Australian families have access to transparent information relating to the quality of early childhood education and care services
- the establishment of a new National Body to ensure early childhood education and care is of a high quality.
The new National Quality Standard will help services to provide the best possible level of early childhood education and care by being clear about the factors that best support a child's development. It will also give services and families confidence in understanding what distinguishes high quality or excellent services.
The new National Quality Standard is divided into seven areas that contribute to the quality of early childhood education and care. These areas have been identified by research and are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children's health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements (including the number of staff looking after children)
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
(source: http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/
Quality/Pages/home.aspx#resources)
THE EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK
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. It underpins universal access to early childhood education and will be incorporated in the National Quality Standard in order to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality early childhood education across sectors and jurisdictions.
The Early Years Learning Framework describes 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 Framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning as play is the best vehicle for young children's learning providing the most appropriate stimulus for brain development.
The Framework also recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development.
(source: http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/
Pages/EarlyYearsLearningFramework.aspx)
