Playgroup: Now and Next
What matters most - Playgroups perspective
The Early Years is a changing space
Emerging themes and how we respond
- Transition
- Evidence and data driven approaches
- Diversification of parenting/care providers
- Quality
- Well functioning families and communities
- A child's right to play and to have a voice
- Parents as a child's first teacher
- Parental capacity, involvement and agency
- Provocation and open endedness in play
- Place based, integrate and complementary services to meet needs
- Relationships
- 2014/15 a productive and purposeful year for Playgroups
- Strong evidence of growth, innovation, commitment and excellence
- CEO leadership and Board direction
- Staff driving programs
- Partnerships and collaborations
- Challenge within a transformative sector is to remain a vibrant, valued and valuable service for children, families and communities
A voice on Playgroup
I love our local playgroup for so many reasons, but the one that has surprised me is the most meaningful ... my daughter and I now feel like we are a part of the community
Transition - new educational pathways
- Key policy documents set the direction
- Transition defined more broadly and diversely
- Engagement with our community starts as early as possible
Funders are looking for ways to form trusting and sustainable relationships with families and communities from birth
How we respond
- Recognition that Playgroups in Schools are an emerging model of practice
- Look to develop and diversify service delivery e.g. Hubs in remote & isolated areas
- Educational leadership in birth to 3 years age range with responsive formats and programs
- Developing a framework to build parenting capacity to support them in their role as a child';s first teacher