During 2009, staff worked with approximately 440
families (415 in 2008) in 14 Local Government Areas
across Sydney and Newcastle. 26 groups operated across
the 7 Family Programs. Home visiting and therapy support
were provided in 5 Programs. KU established an Autism
Panel in the Macarthur region, under the Helping Children
with Autism Package (FaHCSIA) working in consortium
with local therapists. In the same region, KU joined a
consortium to provide transition services for children with
a developmental delay or disability under the DADHC
Early Start Program. All long day care and out of school hours care services
participate in the national Child Care Quality Assurance
(CCQA) System every 2.5 years. In 2009, 11 KU centres
were eligible and achieved the highest profile rating in
all quality assessment areas. High achievement in the
current CCQA System for long day care services and
OOSH as well as participation in the KU Quality Standards
for all KU mainstream services over the last two years has
soundly positioned KU centres for participation in the
new National Quality Standards and Rating System that
will be introduced in 2010.
ELLI
KU’s Early Language and Literacy Initiative (ELLI) was
expanded in 2009 to include a third KU presc hool. All three
are located in South Western and Western Sydney. The ELLI
staff attended 13 Regional Meetings, distributing the ELLI
Program Guide and information to KU staff. A Language
and Literacy Special Interest Group was established for staff
within KU to share their experiences and resources to enrich
early language and literacy practices within their centres. Research Projects
During 2009, approval was given for 8 research
projects to be undertaken in a number of KU services.
Each of these research projects was conducted by
university based researchers working in the faculties of
education, early childhood or psychology. In addition,
KU continued to participate as an industry partner in
two major research projects that will be conducted over
three years: What is life like for babies and toddlers
in childcare? Understanding the ‘lived experience’ of
infants through innovative mosaic methodology (A joint
project with Charles Sturt University, KU and National
Family Day Care); and Social, Economic, and Health
Benefits of Vaccinating Children in Day Care Centres
against Influenza (in partnership with National Centre
for Immunisation Research & Surveillance, Children’s
Hospital at Westmead.
In May the ELLI Project was granted a further 24 months
funding, enabling the project to continue until June 2011.
The new funding also required KU to explore ways in
which ELLI could provide early language and support to
families. This shift became the focus for detailed planning
to be implemented in 2010.
Throughout 2009 ELLI provided assistance to 154 children
from 153 families. The ELLI team also provided on-going
support to the 39 staff in the ELLI preschools.
Delivering Quality
All KU centres continued to be supported by Area Managers
who are specialists in early childhood education and care.
KU mainstream services continued to be involved in
KU’s Quality Standards that were introduced in 2008 to
articulate components of quality in KU centres. It has been
an instrument for staff reflection and self-evaluation, using
measures and ratings in each of the quality areas. In 2009,
the initial focus areas introduced in 2008 were expanded
to encompass Staff-Child Interactions, Partnerships
with Families, Staff Teamwork, Community Networks
and Ratios. Overall, the majority of KU centres reported
practices that are good to high quality in all areas.
Sustainability
In 2009 the Manager, Sustainability continued to support
centres and the Area Managers to implement sustainable
practices and education in KU centres. A Low Plastic Pilot
Project was undertaken in KU Mayfield Preschool and
this was an opportunity for staff to engage with parents
to audit all plastic used in the centre. Items of risk were
removed and replaced with sustainable equipment
– based on the research done for the establishment of
the Stockland centre, Treehouse, in 2008. The project
provided many opportunities for learning and drew wider
community interest which boosted enrolments in the
centre. Resources and documents have been developed for
KU centres to undertake audits of plastic in their centres.
114th Annual Report 2009
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