An introduction to the Queensland kindergarten learning guideline

1. An introduction to theQueensland kindergarten learning guideline

2. Overview • Background information about the Queensland kindergarten learning guideline (QKLG) • Introduction to the QKLG • Purpose • Perspectives and principles • Decision-making practice — processes and elements • Learning and development areas • The Continua of learning and development (companion document) • Professional practice • Leadership

3. Background 2009 • Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) was released. • Office for Early Childhood Education and Care (OECEC) was formed to manage the national and state agenda for early childhood education and care. • OECEC asked the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) to develop and trial the QKLG. 2010 QKLG trial • QKLG (draft) was trialled in 27 kindergarten services. • QKLG (draft) was also available to services participating in the kindergarten funding pilot program. • Wide-ranging consultations were conducted. • Feedback informed the final version of the QKLG.

4. Background 2011 • The QKLG and supporting document, the Continua of learning and development are available. • QKLG professional development materialsare available online on the QSA website: <www.qsa.qld.edu.au>. • Additional professional development materials will be added to the website as they are developed.

5. Background • The QKLG: • aligns with the EYLF • guides curriculum decision making (see National Quality Standard 1.1) • meets Queensland legislative requirements for an approved kindergarten guideline • provides morespecific advice for the Queensland KindergartenYear (the year prior to Prep) • supports teachers to develop quality kindergarten programs • supports early years educators to work collaboratively to deliver the kindergarten program.

6. Background • Implementing the QKLG: • requires a teamapproach within a service • supports the focus on quality programs as services: • implement the National Quality Standard (NQS) • implement the EYLF through the QKLG • promotes a focus on: • continuity in learning • pedagogy — adult’s role in play, effective teaching and learning in the early years • requires supportive leadership.

7. Queensland kindergarten learning guideline • Introduction

8. Purpose • The EYLF • Vision: • learning that is engaging • building success for life • belonging, being, becoming. • Outcomes • Children: • have a strong sense of identity • are connected with and contribute to their world • have a strong sense of wellbeing • are confident, involved learners • are effective communicators.

9. Purpose • The QKLG: • shares EYLF vision • learning that is engaging • building success for life • belonging, being and becoming • describes five learning and development areas based on the EYLFoutcomes: • Identity • Connectedness • Wellbeing • Active learning • Communicating.

10. Purpose • The QKLG: • is more specific than EYLF • targets programs for kindergarten children(the year prior to Prep) • identifies specific knowledge, skills and dispositions (learning areas) • is for qualified teachers (working with an early years team) • guides professional practice • promotes continuity from early learning into kindergarten and into P–3 programs. 3 4 5 Prep to Year 3

11. Purpose • The QKLG: • recognises and values all early years educators, parents, families and other partners • recognises the teacher’s role as a pedagogical leader who works with a team. Research link When qualified teachers work with early years educators, the quality of interactions and children’s outcomes are enhanced. (Siraj-Blatchford, I et al, 2002, Researching Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years: Research Report No. 356, Department for Education and Skills, UK, p. 147)

12. Purpose • The QKLGshares the national commitmentto: • improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children • building cultural competence • strengthening all children’s appreciation and understanding of Australia’s first peoples.

13. Perspectives • “Our image of the child is rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent, and most of all connected to adults and other children.” • (Malaguzzi, L 1993, “For an education based on relationships”, Young Children, November, p. 10)

14. Perspectives • The vision “belonging, being and becoming” is enacted by adopting: • the view that interactions between children and adults shape learning • a connected view of: • engaged learning and teaching • the engaged child • the engaged parent • the engaged teacher.

15. Principles that guide practice • Builds continuity by integrating: • EYLF principles and practice • Queensland P–3 principles and practice. • High expectations and equity • Respect for diversity • Holistic learning • Respectful relationships • Continuity in learning • Shared decision making • Intentional teaching • Reflective practice

16. Decision-making practice

17. Decision-making practice • Teachers’ decision making: • is dynamic and interconnected • is informed by their perspectives • is framed by principles • involves short- and long-term decisions • is informed by their professional knowledge • focuses on balance between emergent and planned learning • is inclusive and responsive.

18. Decision-making practice • Elements • responsivenessto children • building inclusive partnerships • creating inclusive learning environments • developing learning contexts — play, real-life engagements, and routines and transitions • promoting children’slearning and development • Processes • planningand organising for learning • interactingand co-constructing learning • monitoringanddocumenting children’s learning • assessingchildren’s learning • reflectingon learning and practice

19. Specific advice is provided about the decision-making processes: planningand organising for learning interactingand co-constructing learning monitoringanddocumenting children’s learning assessingchildren’s learning reflectingon learning and practice. Decision-making processes

20. Decision-making processes Informed decision making

21. Decision-making elements Specific advice is provided about the decision-making elements: • responsivenessto children • building inclusive partnerships • creating inclusive learningenvironments • developing learning contexts—play, real-life engagements, and routines and transitions • promoting children’slearning and development.

22. Learning and development areas Identity Connectedness Wellbeing Active learning Communicating

23. Promoting continuity of learning and development • Teachers promote continuity by: • using the continua to make judgments about learning progress • sharing information about children’s learning throughout the year • promoting the understandings, skills and dispositions that help children to make smooth transitions • collaboratively developing a transition statement to summarise and share information about learning to support transition into the Prep Year.

24. Exploring theLearning and development areas

25. Learning and development areas * In the Communicating learning area, childrencommunicate using first language, signed (alternative) or alternative augmentative communication (AAC) and Standard Australian English (SAE) as or when appropriate. Nonverbal children may substitute alternative or AAC for words.

26. Exploring the learning and development areas Learning and development area Key focuses Related EYLF learning outcome

27. Exploring the learning and development areas Significant learnings (related to one key focus) Key focuses

28. Learning and development areas Knowledge, skills and dispositions

29. Learning and development areas Intentional teaching ideas

30. Continua of learning and development

31. Continua of learning and development

32. Continua of learning and development • Supports teachers to make informed judgments about a child’s learning and development based on a collection of evidence of learning.

33. Sample continuum of learning and development

34. Continuum of learning and development • support teachers to make judgments about learning that are consistent with those of other teachers • are examples,and teachers add their own examples. Teacher-provided “collections of descriptions”:

35. Professional practice

36. Professional practice • The QKLG provides additional advice related to: • intentional teaching (Appendix 1) • making decisions to support children with additional needs (Appendix 2) • teachers’ thinking processes that support children’s learning (Appendix 3) • transition statements (Appendix 4). • It also provides: • a glossary • references and readings.

37. Professional practice • The QKLG promotes ongoing reflective practice, including reflecting: • on what we know about children • on the effectiveness of the program (evaluation) • on practices to improve outcomes for children • with colleagues.

38. Leadership — promoting professionalism • Leaders can facilitate the implementation of the guideline by: • maintaining effective and ongoing communication with all staff • valuing the diverse expertise and skills of all staff • providing time and support for colleagues to work together to identify and negotiate roles and responsibilities • being open and flexible, so staff can explore new ways to plan, interact, monitor and assess learning • identifying and building on strengths • maintaining and encouraging a positive approach to change and challenge/s • supporting collaborative planning for quality improvement • celebrating and sharing successes.

39. Leadership — promoting professionalism The online professional development materials expand on the following aspects of professional practices: • In addition, a resources section provides: • a wide variety of materials to support professional practices • templates and samples of transition statements, planning and observation.