Canberra Preschool Society

Scheduled meeting between CPS & Lyons PPA

Early Childhood School Conceptual Framework Launched.
"It is envisaged that these schools will develop as early learning and development centres. They will become regional hubs, providing integrated services for children (birth to 8 years) and their families. In addition to preschool to year 2 classes, these services could include child care, family support services and other services that support children’s learning, health and well-being." ... Click here to read more about it PLUS download the framework document (this hyperlink takes you to the ACTDET Website)

P-2 Reference Group – Expert Panel –
The CPS Executive Officer, Dianne Thornton, and President, Carolyn Harkness, were privileged to participate in the P-2 Reference group – Expert Panel day.

We listened to four experienced and dedicated professionals, from a diverse range of professional fields, tell us that what we are doing now – the CPS/ACTDET collaborative partnership and that our existing community-driven preschool “hubs” - are exactly what we need to preserve and build on.
One particular presentation on 0-5 child brain research and how the findings impact upon the young child’s cognitive and non-cognitive (social) development was quite motivating. Providing a significant foundation for the CPS current considerations for a future role in the ACT community.

All of the experts on the P-2 Reference Group panel were enthusiastic about the potential for the existing CPS/ACTDET partnership to continue and for the P-2 initiative to become a reality for future generations. A final parting comment from the day – was unanimous agreement that the P-2 schools should not be called “schools” but something else that encompasses the broader aspects – an implication of which is that the shift in thinking for early childhood places the parent body role into our community interests.

P-2 Reference Group Meeting #2.
Potential P-2 school enrolments; was not discussed as the Preschool Census was onot available.
The development of an Early Childhood Experts Panel, who, on the 31st of May, would meet and critique the Conceptual Framework and meet with the P-2 Reference Group.

P-2 Conceptual Framework.
Work began on the identification of principles for early learning as they were relevant to the existing School’s Improvement Framework. Discussion was a bit ponderous and I seriously think that this is going to take a lot longer than the time allowed.

P-2 Reference Group Meeting #1.
Term of Reference: “To provide advice on a conceptual framework for P-2 schools in the ACT that defines essential components and allows sufficient flexibility and options for each school, along with its community, to offer a range of integrated services to meet the needs of its community.”
Background reading: A number of documents were distributed to assist participants with attaining a shared understanding of the task ahead. See the attached bibliography for the list – and where to find them on the internet.

“Characteristics of a Quality Early Childhood Education” Virtually the same presentation as given by Ms. Angela Anderson at our General Meeting.
There is a meeting coming up later this week (Thursday the 5th of April). The main agenda items include: Potential P-2 school enrolments; a forthcoming Early Childhood Experts Panel: on the 31st of May and working towards developing a potential ACT framework for early childhood schools. The framework will support the:
• identification of principles for early learning, grounded in research and best practice,
• definition of the essential characteristics of P-2 schools
• provision of guidance to schools for operating within a broader provision of integrated early childhood services. (e.g. “Toronto First Duty” project in the bibliography)
• flexibility for each P-2 school to develop their own strategic plans and initiatives.