When we think of listening, we may envisage someone sitting quietly, paying attention to us and responding appropriately. However, what we experience with young children is often very different and may include wriggling, laughing, facing away from us, or ignoring us totally. It can feel frustrating and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

We speak to Narelle Myers, Director of Bermagui Preschool and CELA Regional Early Education Specialist, to find out what is going on developmentally and how we can best respond.

On Tuesday 5 April, Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) came together to host an Education and Care Pre-Election Forum where we shared our 6 Point Plan for the future of the education and care sector.
 
The forum was an opportunity for our members to have their voices heard by politicians, and to unpack what each political party envisions for our sector in the lead up to the federal election.

Find out what the politicians had to say, what our members want to see implemented, and how you can help to amplify our advocacy in the lead up to the election. Watch the full event via a recording. 

Last week the much anticipated Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) 2021 National Results were released. They showed that while COVID-19 and lockdowns have impacted on children’s development, particularly in relation to the language and cognitive skills domain, the overall impact may not be as significant as we may have expected. Of concern is that the report identifies larger increases in developmental vulnerability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children living in the most disadvantaged areas of Australia. 

Read our summary, what it means for ECEC, and how you can use the results when planning for the needs of children in your local area.

The Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, handed down the Government’s Federal budget last Tuesday. Sadly, The Budget provided little new support to the education and care sector.    

CELA, together with the other education and care peak bodies Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA), expressed their disappointment that there were limited new measures, and that education and care was not recognised as a key cost of living driver. 

In this week’s Amplify we analyse what it means for children, families and the education and care sector, and how it aligns with our 6 Point Plan for Education and Care.