What Is A Childcare Curriculum?

A childcare curriculum. When we hear the word “curriculum” you probably picture school uniforms, desks and tests- all aspects that are counter-intuitive to the childcare environment you see every day. And yet, the curriculum or program that your child engages in every day is the basis for their learning for years to come.

It might be hard to grasp but, never fear. Below is a simple guide to exactly what ‘curriculum in childcare’ means, and the key points you need to know in order to appreciate how their educators structure every day.

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What is it?

In short, an early learning curriculum is all about your child’s learning and development during those vital years. There are two nationally approved learning frameworks within Australia, and two further ones that are state or territory specific. Each provides guidance that supports the best learning for children from birth to age five, including the transition to school.

These are:

Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF)
My Time, Our Place: Framework for School Age Care in Australia (MTOP)
Curriculum Framework for Kindergarten to Year 10 (Western Australia)
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (Victoria)

Each of these approved programs has been developed to focus on the fact that children learn from birth. They consider the developmental needs of a child, the influence of the communities the child is a part of as well as taking into account each child’s individual interests, needs and culture.

In addition, in some services the Reggio Emilia Philosophy is used in conjunction with the EYLF to provide what many consider to be the pinnacle curriculum for pre-school child development.

So what’s the difference between them?

All of these government-approved curriculums are wholly centred on ensuring that facilities offering early childhood care and education follow a proven framework, providing all children with the best start possible during their formative early years.

Each has a slightly different approach. But the key point to understand is that they use a structured learning program that builds on a child’s interests and abilities, provides quality experiences and, very importantly, allows parents and caregivers to be a part of their learning.

For instance, the EYLF program uses five learning goals to help children develop:

A strong sense of their identity
Connections with their world
A strong sense of wellbeing
Confidence and involvement in their learning
Effective communication skills.

MTOP concentrates on three elements to bring about the same results:

Principles
Practice
Learning outcomes

Importantly, the MTOP framework is closely linked to the EYLF, which concentrates on birth to five years. It builds upon what’s been learned and carries this through into the school years.

The territory and state specific frameworks of WA and Victoria centre on exactly the same results, just with some slightly different aspects. All of the programs take into account that children need to develop a strong sense of identity, be connected with and contribute to the world, have a sense of wellbeing, gain confidence in learning as well as discovering how to effectively communicate with others.

The Reggio Emilia Approach was developed in Italy after WW2 and is a constantly evolving approach that’s based around the belief that child, parent, community and the natural environment are all crucial to the best child development. The key components of this globally acclaimed approach are:

The Image of the Child: Children are competent and capable learners: Children naturally question the world around them.
The Environment as the Third Teacher: Providing children with the materials they need to learn in an ordered, maintained environment.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child: The importance of family and community, and constant communication between educators, families, and those around them.
Documentation: Used to capture every child’s learning and determine future directions of programs.
The 100 Languages of Children: In other words, a child’s right to express him or herself in a number of ways, such as art, dance, music, dramatic play, and – of course – traditional ways such as storytelling, discussions and negotiations.

By engaging the principles, practices and outcomes that support and enhance the learning of young children, these approved frameworks quite simply give a child the very best start in life possible.

Nido Early School Centres, with their nationwide network of pre-school centres, are proud to follow the Reggio Emilia approach to early learning. Adhering to the National Quality Standards and combined with the EYLF program, they bring their expert approach to ensuring your little ones are privy to the best start in life, thanks to the professionalism and care given by all who work there. Visit their website at www.nidoearlyschool.com.au, or give your local centre a call to find out more, and understand more about the philosophy and why parents around the world are such fans of this care-centred approach to early childhood education.