Work Collaboratively
Striving for Best Practice – Tip One
At EarlyWorks we are passionate about supporting services in constantly striving for best practice. In this series of short blogs, I will be sharing different ways educators can use EarlyWorks to achieve and show evidence of best practice, particularly with Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice.
Tip Number One – Work collaboratively
According to the Guide to the NQF, one of the indicators considered by assessors in achieving Exceeding for Standard 1.1, is clear evidence of all educators working collaboratively with the educational leader to make curriculum decisions. This collaboration can be carried out and documented in EarlyWorks by using Program Comments.
Using Program Comments educators, educational leaders, room leaders and directors can discuss the current program:
- making suggestions about groups, what’s working and what could be improved, resources…
- sharing ideas for extending on learning and interests,
- reflecting on how effectively the program is building on the knowledge, strengths, ideas, culture, abilities and interests of each child, and
- discussing how the program aligns with the service philosophy.
Program Comments provides a safe space for this collaboration as it is only visible to educators assigned to that room, and administrators.
When it comes time for ratings and assessment and updating the QIP, these program comments provide clear evidence of professional collaboration (4.2.1), critical reflection (1.3.2) and a child centered program (1.1.2).
