Early Years

Early Years Twilight Seminar: Wednesday 7 March

Don't miss the first Early Years Twilight Seminar for 2018 on Wednesday 7 March. This seminar, which focuses on intentional teaching, has generated a lot of interest; however, places are still available.

Presented at the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership, the seminar will be broadcast at these venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria via Polycom: Bairnsdale, Bendigo, Berwick, Blackburn, Corangamite Shire, Hamilton, Tangambalanga/Kiewa Valley, Leongatha, Mildura, Portland, Sale, Sunshine North, Swan Hill, Warrnambool, Werribee, Wodonga and Wonthaggi.

The seminar will feature the Planning Cycle Resource, a series of sample learning and development plans for educators working with children in early years settings (available on the VCAA Early Years resources webpages). The plans focus on learning and development in the domains of mathematics and science, and are organised to reflect the age ranges birth to two years, three to five years, and six to eight years. This resource supports an intentional approach to children's learning and supports educators to achieve National Quality Standard 1: Education program and practice.

Seminar presenters Dr Caroline Cohrssen and Mary Holwell will introduce the resource and demonstrate how it can be a model for effective professional practice.

Register now to ensure a place. If you have any questions about the Twilight Seminar, go to the Early Years Professional Learning webpages, or contact the VCAA Early Years Unit: veyldf@edumail.vic.gov.au or (03) 9032 1684.

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Effective Mentoring Program

Registration for the 2018 Effective Mentoring Program (EMP) is now open and sessions commence on Wednesday 7 March. Experienced early childhood teachers, currently working in kindergarten and long day care services, are eligible to register for the free, two-day program to become a mentor.

Mentors support provisionally registered teachers (PRTs) to gain their full teacher registration by guiding them through the compulsory Victorian Institute of Teaching registration process. (PRTs have two years to apply for full registration).

Increasing the number of early childhood trained mentors will support the conversion rate of PRTs to fully registered teachers.

Having a trained mentor in a service will help support and strengthen the capacity of the current and future early childhood educators, as well as lift the overall quality of the service. By undertaking this leadership opportunity, experienced teachers will contribute to professionalisation of the early childhood sector and become great mentors to beginning teachers.

This training is developed and delivered by the Department of Education and Training in partnership with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

To register, please visit the Victorian Institute of Teaching website. For more information, please visit the Department of Education and Training website. If you have any questions, please contact Nicola Rodger, Policy Officer, Early Years Workforce, Early Childhood and School Education Group: rodger.nicola.m@edumail.vic.gov.au.

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