Early Learning Matters

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The Early Learning Matters podcast series aims to inspire high-quality early childhood practice and build educator capacity. Jacqui Ward (Early Learning Coordinator) is joined by a number of colleagues who support department preschools where they unpack important early childhood concepts, theories and practice. The podcasts are designed to supplement and complement other resources and professional learning.

NSW Department of Education


    • Feb 9, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 16m AVG DURATION
    • 48 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Early Learning Matters

    Updated Early Years Learning Framework

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 17:49


    Jacqui Ward and Nicci McDowell discuss the updates to the Early Years Learning Framework. This includes providing an overview of the key changes and what educators need to do to be ready for 2024 implementation.

    Play-based learning in schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 40:03


    Nicole Burgess and Sarah Wenham join Jacqui Ward to discuss the importance of play-based learning in early years.

    STEM in the early years

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 30:31


    Sibylle Seidler, Heike Hendershot and Haley Bates from Little Scientist join Jacqui Ward to discuss the importance of STEM in the early years.

    What is the AEDC and what type of information is in the AEDC?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 25:32


    What is the AEDC and what type of information is in the AEDC?

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    How to engage with the AEDC data

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 29:48


    How to engage with the AEDC data

    Effective use of the transition to school statement

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 7:33


    Lisa Wicks talks to a Kindergarten and Preschool teacher from Woy Woy public school about using the transition to school statement effectively

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Vietnamese

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:42


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Vietnamese. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Urdu

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:18


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Urdu. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Turkish

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 8:32


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Turkish. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Thai

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:59


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Thai. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Swahili

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 9:24


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Swahili. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Punjabi

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:58


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Punjabi. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Persian

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 11:31


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Persian. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Mongolian

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:59


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Mongolian. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Mandarin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:55


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Mandarin. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Korean

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 9:00


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Korean. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Khmer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 12:27


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Khmer. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Japanese

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 9:20


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Japanese. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Hindi

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 11:41


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Hindi. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Cantonese

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 10:23


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Cantonese. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Translated early childhood guided learning package - Arabic

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 11:55


    This early childhood guided learning package has been translated to Arabic. The early childhood guided learning packages have been developed by early childhood professionals and learning designers to support learning at home for 3-5 year old preschool children.

    Numeracy in the early years - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 31:39


    This is the third podcast in a series about numeracy in the early years. In this podcast, Jacqui Ward, Linda De Marcellis and Juliana Lagana discuss the numeracy concepts. They provide links to research that highlight the importance of developing strong understandings of these concept in early childhood and examples and resources to support educators broaden their understanding of how these concepts fit together to develop children's numeracy skills.

    Numeracy in the early years - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 19:25


    This is the second podcast in a series about numeracy in the early years. In this podcast, Jacqui Ward, Linda De Marcellis and Juliana Lagana discuss the intentional and explicit teaching of numeracy in the early years. They unpack the importance of planning for intentional mathematics and numeracy learning and highlight pedagogical practices that support that planning. They provide links to research and resources around mathematical talk and touch on some practical strategies and tools that teachers can use to enhance their intentional teaching.

    Numeracy in the early years - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 19:33


    This is the first podcast in a series about numeracy in the early years. In this podcast, Jacqui Ward, Juliana Lagana and Linda De Marcellis discuss the importance of numeracy in both early childhood and school curriculum. They clarify the relationship and interconnectedness of mathematics and numeracy and speak about how numeracy development in the early years supports later learning.

    Creative arts in the early years

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 40:07


    This podcast explores the importance of creative arts in the early years including early childhood and the first years of school.

    Effective assessment in early childhood

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 23:01


    In this podcast, Jacqui and Lisa discuss the elements of effective assessment in early childhood settings. They discuss the ways that early childhood educators can focus in on assessment as the first part of the teaching and learning cycle and how the new assessment tool can support educators to more effectively engage in assessment practices linked to the outcomes of the early years learning framework.

    Children as researchers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 20:58


    In this podcast, Ruth and Chris discuss the topic of children as researchers, and how inquiry-based learning supports children's authentic engagement. Chris provides examples of children working alongside educators to explore a topic as equal partners in the learning.

    High potential and gifted education in the early years

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 23:41


    In this podcast, Jacqui Ward and Lynda Lovett discuss the difference between high potential and gifted and how the department's policy and The Early Years Learning Framework align. They also delve into the importance of transition to school for high potential and gifted children.

    For families - how to support learning within the family and across learning areas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 15:17


    This podcast looks at how parents can support learning for each of their children across age ranges by involving them in every day, fun activities that allow each child to be involved and learn at their own level. Many everyday home activities can support concepts and learning outcomes across early childhood to school learning areas all at the same time.

    For families - letting your child take the lead!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 18:41


    When a child plays alone, or solitarily, they have a chance to engage deeply and can make mistakes and create solutions, feeling accomplished. Playing with others supports the ongoing development as children ‘practice' what they learned. This episode discusses the benefits of letting your child take the lead in their own play.

    For families - play based learning and how children learn through play

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 11:59


    In this episode, we explore how children learn everyday through play in the early years and how helping your child learn at home through play, can lay strong foundations for reading and writing and more formal school learning.

    For families - what guides what and how children learn in the early years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 9:57


    This episode explores how the 'Early Years Learning Framework', as the mandatory curriculum for early childhood education, supports teachers to deliver learning programs that improve learning outcomes for children and support learning in the early years. We also look at how that supports a strong start to school.

    For families - learning in the everyday

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 14:01


    Learning in the everyday introduces a series of podcasts about how children learn through everyday experiences and play at home, not only at preschool, school or early childhood services. This episode focuses on recognising the learning that comes from the activities and routines that parents and families do every day.

    Literacy in the early years - developing oral language and the demands of schooling

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 17:53


    This is the second podcast in the series about literacy in the early years. In this podcast, Vanessa Dimitroulas and Janice Gorrie discuss the demands of school and academic language and the role educators play in supporting children's oral language development in the early years.

    Literacy in the early years - oral language development and tuning in

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 18:33


    This is the first episode in a series about literacy in the early years. Vanessa and Janice discuss the oral language development of children and how it is shaped by their early experiences and interactions.

    Dockett and Perry - transition and COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 8:43


    Sue Dockett and Bob Perry, Peridot Education Pty Ltd, discuss possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families starting school. Changes in opportunities and expectations for transition practices are emphasised.

    Dockett and Perry - what is transition?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 5:28


    Sue Dockett and Bob Perry, Peridot Education Pty Ltd, reflect on 24 years of research and publication about transition to school. They emphasise the importance of building relationships among all involved and distinguish between transition practices and orientation programs.

    Transition to school at Tarro Public School

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2020 21:43


    Jacqui Ward talks to the Tarro Public School team about their transition to school practices, particularly in the context of COVID-19.

    Learning from home - one school's journey

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 23:54


    A conversation with the Rosehill Public School preschool team about their learning from home journey.

    School of the Air - supporting families with learning from home

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 7:42


    The Early Learning Matters team talk with School of the Air about supporting families with learning from home.

    School of the Air - teaching remotely

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 10:42


    The Early Learning Matters team talk with School of the Air about teaching remotely.

    Learning from home - supporting young children with a disability

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 11:41


    Jacqui Ward joins Therese Winyard to discuss how teachers can support continuity of learning for children with a disability when they are learning from home.

    Quality preschool practice professional learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 29:41


    Jacqui Ward joins Cathrine Neislon-Hewitt, Faye Gowers and Kim Stouse-Lee from the University of Wollongong to discuss the quality preschool practice professional learning project.

    The Early Years Learning Framework - revolutionary

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 9:35


    Jacqui Ward and Jess Lavers discuss the development and significance of The Early Years Learning Framework.

    The Early Years Learning Framework - belonging, being, becoming

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 17:18


    Jacqui Ward and Sheree Bell unpack the theoretical underpinnings of the three overarching themes of The Early Years Learning Framework and how they relate to children, families and colleagues.

    The Early Years Learning Framework - principles

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 9:47


    Jacqui Ward and Kerry Flick discuss the importance of the five guiding principles of The Early Years Learning Framework and they can inform early childhood practice.

    The Early Years Learning Framework - practices

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 17:41


    Jacqui Ward and Sheree Bell explore the pedagogical practices within The Early Years Learning Framework, and unpack how the practices can inform an educator's toolkit.

    The Early Years Learning Framework - outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 9:05


    Jacqui Ward and Jessica Townsing focus on the learning outcomes of The Early Years Learning Framework, and how teachers can engage with them to document and plan for children's learning.

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