Science in the early years curriculum is often underrated and overlooked. We may have a nature area, do volcanoes in the sandpit and do the odd science experiment sometimes. But there is so much more that we can do with science if we only knew how. Today I am joined by the vibrant author and science teacher Rachel Rohloff to talk about her books and also how we can create exciting science learning opportunities in the early years environment. We also have a webinar with Rachel "Let's get sorted for science" which you can access at https://enspirement-learning.co/course/lets-get-sorted-for-sci ..read more

Most early years educators will work with children on the autism spectrum at some stage of our careers. Having an understanding of what life is like for the whole family and how we can work effectively with children and families is an important part of our role.  In this episode, I speak with Jo Blair - artist, teacher, centre owner and mum to three boys one of whom has autism. Jo gives some incredibly valuable insight into her family's experience of living with an autistic child and their experiences in the early years' sector. She also shares some useful suggestions for how we can effec ..read more

As ECE leaders and managers,  conducting a formal investigation is one of those things we all hope we NEVER have to do. Yet, we may sadly find ourselves in this exact situation at some point in our career. And if we do, it is critical that we know what to do.  In this episode I am joined by Ainsley Palairet from Fix HR, who talks us through this tricky stuff, and helps ECE managers and leaders to understand their obligations when conducting a formal investigation ..read more

One of the most frequently lamented issues I hear from early childhood leaders and managers is how to get their team on the same page and performing like superstar teachers. In this episode I share 10 pieces of an important puzzle that you can put together to ensure your teachers are not only meeting your expectations, but also thriving.  This podcast is one of our "lunch bites" where we bring you new ECE learning, support and guidance in less than 30 minutes. This episode is also available as a reading that you can share with colleagues at https://www.ecelearningunlimited.com/blog/cre ..read more

Resettling a child back into your early childhood service after an absence can be a challenging, emotional time for everyone involved. Especially if the child is struggling with this. As early childhood teachers we all want the best for the children in our care, but sometimes we just need some support ourselves to achieve this.  In this lunch bite episode I answer a letter from a teacher who is seeking strategies as a primary caregiver for how to support a child who is struggling to resettle after a long absence.  I share my response, offering 11 suggestions for how this teacher ca ..read more

If you are working in an early childhood environment, you will no doubt have heard the term "dispositions" used when talking about children's learning. When teachers assess children's learning, they will look for their dispositions. But what exactly are dispositions? And why are they so important in ECE? In this lunch bite podcast of only 10 minutes I unpack what dispositions are and explain why they are so important for early childhood teachers to recognise and respond to. This session is perfect for anyone who is new to early childhood education, or anyone who needs a bit of a refresher ..read more

Do you ever feel frustrated that your ECE teachers are just not meeting your expectations? Do you have teachers in your team whose performance could be so much better? If you are in a position of leadership in ECE, one of your primary objectives must be to lead the learning of your teachers. Because your teachers are the ones who spend the most time with children. What they say, what they do, how they go about their teaching and interacting with children and families every day is the core work. It’s the sole reason you all have jobs!  But what does it mean to lead the learning of teache ..read more

We all know how frustrating it can be when we really want to make some changes in our ECE environment (whether it be to routines or systems) but our manager just won't listen or let us change anything.  This podcast is one of our new lunch time bites, where you can quickly listen during a break or on a walk to get some great advice for you as a teacher or leader in early childhood education. In this lunch bite episode of only 11 minutes and thirty seven seconds,  I give you six tips for how to get your manager to listen to you.  ..read more

In this podcast interview with Katherine Bussey we talk about the importance of care and connection with our infants and toddlers and also; Her experiences in Budapest learning about the Pikler approach . Katherine’s explanation of the Pikler approach for beginners. Relevant findings from Katherine’s doctoral research The shifts in infant and toddler teacher practice Katherine has seen in New Zealand and Australia over the last 15 years. Where to next for infant and toddler teachers developing in this specialty.  There is so much we can learn from Katherine’s amazing career in early ch ..read more

In this podcast interview with Sharon Smith we discussed; How Sharon came to be a RIE Associate - her personal journey. What is the RIE philosophy all about in a nutshell - an explanation for beginners. The main RIE principles that all infant and toddler teachers need to know, understand and practice. Some of the common misconceptions about RIE practice in ECE group care. What the NZITC has planned for 2021 ..read more