Ten Fantastic Pressie ideas!

All I want for Christmas....well, what would be fun and educational at the same time?  Karla Morison, Speech Pathologist from My Word Speech Therapy, Albury, has listed ten exciting suggestions that are also easy to locate.  If you haven't got the funds to purchase some new versions, remember St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, The Red Cross and local buy and swap groups often have just what you're after.  Click on the present on the My Word Speech Therapy website  www.speechtherapyalbury.com.au or go directly to Top Ten Christmas Present suggestions.  These are not just for Christmas :)

Social and Emotional Development in the Early Years of Childhood

Resilience in Childhood is a very interesting read from the Grow & Thrive program developed The Centre of Community Child Health. In this article on resilience, highlights are made to the importance of developing relationships and the value of this in relation to why and how we as early childhood professionals and / or parents can contribute to fostering resilience in our young children.  As also discussed and identified in the Care for Kids article Developing resilience in early years (and linked directly to the EYLF and the core elements of Being, Belonging and Becoming), resilience in early childhood is all about fostering for children:

• sense of self – knowing who they are
• self-esteem – feeling good about who they are
• optimism – feeling hopeful that they can make it through challenges
• problem solving skills – being able to persevere through mistakes and difficulties to find a solution
• decision-making skills – having the confidence to choose a path to a solution
• realistic sense of personal control – feeling that they can make a meaningful impact in their world. 

Communicating - knowing what, when and how to share information with families

The Anne Stonehouse article in the latest NQS PLP eNewsletter (No. 68), Communicating with families about children's learning, is the kind of article you print and include in your staff handbook - specifically with relation to the EYLF and NQS areas of collaborative communication.  It is also very useful for general relationship development. The exemplars in the article are relevant and you can picture the application of each.  There are starting points within that I feel you'll discover and use at some point in time - whether it's with the discussion about school readiness or general conversations with families. What I also find appealing in this article is the 'permission' almost, to not have to report everything to families.  Empathy will determine some instances where 'less is more'.  Knowing individual families and being considerate in what and how we say things, will make all the difference for the developing collaboration and bond between educator and family.

Scolarships to fund your EC degree!

The Department of Education and Communities has just released a SECOND round of Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships.  As highlighted in the latest ACECQA Newsletter, Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships are on offer to early childhood educators around NSW to upgrade their qualifications and become qualified early childhood teachers.  For many of you in the CareWest SCAN support regions,  eligibility is even higher as the focus is especially on educators working in rural and remote communities where qualified early childhood educators are in short supply.  The scholarships are part of the recently announced strategy Rural and Remote Education: A blueprint for action.  Educators who go for the scholarship must not already have started their early childhood teaching degree.  With the scholarships worth between $7500 and $10,000, it is certainly worth applying.  For more information, please click here.

REImagining Inclusion

What makes us think we need to RE Imagine Inclusion?  Do you feel there are gaps within your early intervention support network that are hard to fill?  Is the opportunity to rethink your practice something you'd love to do - but where to start?  Is mentoring and onthefloor coaching a possibility for you?  How do you feel you 'rate' as an inclusive practice?  The Reimagining Inclusion Conference  was recently held in Melbourne and provided opportunity to hear from national and international early childhood inclusion researchers, lecturers, educators and policy advocates.  Debating and questioning is a large part of any change.  There are elements within the presentations that make us feel affirmed about the path we are travelling, and others that inspire. 
The key messages that I took away and will continue to reflect upon are:

Global Developmental Delay

What is Global Development Delay (GDD)? I have a child in my preschool with the diagnosis and I am unclear as to what it means?  I have a child presenting a significant delay in receptive and expressive language, as well as bumping into things.  Could this be GDD?
Global Development Delay is defined as a significant delay in two or more developmental areas.  The delays may be identified between 0-18 years - many times including difficulties in communication.
While we know that Global Developmental Delay or GDD can be caused due to such conditions as Cerebral Palsy, Rett Syndrome and other neuromuscular disorders, Fragile X - the inherited genetic disorder often associated with Autism, and/or being born prematurely, or other environmental deprivations, the cause can be difficult to identify.  What we do know is that early diagnosis improves outcomes. 

SCAN (Supporting Children with Additional Needs) - Applications now due

Preschools, vacation care and occasional care within the Orana Far West, Central West and Riverina Murray regions of New South Wales - don't forget to submit your applications and continuation of funding applications for SCAN 2014, THIS WEEK!  I know it's hard to believe that we are already in Week 6 - it's daunting really!  But as it is, we do require you to submit your paperwork as best you can by the end of this week.  If you have any issues, or if you are unsure about eligibility, please don't hesitate to contact your SCAN Project Officer.  All documentation is located on this blogsite under Relevant Documents.  All contact details are on the Welcome page.  Looking forward to hearing from you this week!

November 2013

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
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3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10 Week 6	11	12	13	14	15 Submit applications for SCAN	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30

 

Marie Jacobson from Leeton helps blow out the birthday candles!

There is the great saying - "You've got to be in it to win it".  Another is "If you don't think you're worth it, why should others?".  Marie Jacobson, Director of Leeton Preschool, hesitated before applying, though thankfully went by the first saying and won by the second!  I've been privileged enough to read her application.  It's humble - and Marie is most certainly a worthy scholarship awardee!  

Community Child Care Co-op celebrated their 35th birthday by hosting a day long 'smart party' with amazing speakers and a cocktail party to boot.  Marie was successful in her application to HESTA and won a scholarship to attend!  Very kindly, Marie shares her experience below.  

Survey for preschools - it's no monkey business!

The CareWest SCAN Program has been reviewing feedback made over the past twelve months regarding identified ‘gaps’ in the development of sustainable inclusive preschool programs.  Further to this, we have collated a survey that we would urge one key person per service to complete. 
All preschools and service providers within the Riverina Murray, Orana Far West and Central West regions should have received an email with the Survey Monkey link. 

We would appreciate if you could please make time in your calendar to have the survey completed no later than Thursday 14^th November 2013 to ensure timely revision. (note amended deadline). Your information must count! 

NB: If for some reason you did not receive the email and know that you are within those regions, please contact Sara Stockman 02 69258147 as soon as possible before Thursday 7.11.13.