• Do you know your strengths?

    By Colin Slattery June 16, 2021

    There is a considerable body of evidence detailing the benefits of using our strengths. However, research has also revealed the following: Only about one-third of people can identify their own strengths (Hill, 2001); and Only 17% of people say they use their strengths ‘most of the time’ each day (Buckingham, 2007). So what does this … Read more

  • Are you judging the QIP?

    By Kristy O'Toole March 24, 2021

    It is important to make a good first impression. A familiar saying and piece of advice that is gifted to us us when we head off to meet someone for the first time. There are some of us who believe in first impressions and then there are some of us who do not, more likely … Read more

  • Tell me more about ‘Titling’!

    By Dr Alma Fleet September 7, 2020

    This is a way to focus your thinking. Finding titles for your ‘noticings’ may be part of your organisational strategy for formative assessment, an attempt to understand more about pedagogical documentation, or a chance to analyse everyday interactions in order to be better informed about the children in your care. This strategy ‘lifts the bar’ … Read more

  • An anti-bias approach: but where do I start?

    By Sarah-Louise Gandolfo August 31, 2020

    An anti-bias approach to early childhood education and care is not an add on. It is not a script to follow or a tick box curriculum. In fact, the anti-bias goals were used to create our national frameworks, so they underpin all that we do. An anti-bias approach is the integration of diverse and complex … Read more

  • Co-research?

    By Dr Alma Fleet August 24, 2020

    The notion of ‘co-researching’ may be causing a little uncertainty around your place. You may have heard that you are being encouraged to try it, but you’re not all that sure what people are talking about! Remembering that the prefix ‘co’ means ‘with’, won’t be much help if you or your colleagues are unsure about the ‘research’ bit!

  • Fostering accountability

    By Sarah-Louise Gandolfo August 17, 2020

    A question I am consistently asked is “how do I get my team to be more accountable?”. Accountability within an ECEC setting is vital to ensuring a positive and engaged workplace culture, where the growth of its people is considered vital. Services with a high level of accountability tend to have high quality teams that … Read more

  • Discovering Professional Resilience During Uncertain Times. When The Going Gets Tough….

    By Karen Warrington August 10, 2020

    And so the day begins.  Another day of watching and waiting for the news that could possibly set a new and unchartered direction for us all.  Every day seems to be just like the last. Today of all days has been the end of a particularly anxious wait for our community.  Another day of uncertainty … Read more

  • Invitational literacy

    By Dr Alma Fleet August 3, 2020

    I wonder if you’ve been caught up in the pressure for assessing literacy development? Did that result in ticking off checklists and requiring more group instruction? It’s certainly reasonable to pay attention to whether children are making progress in the building blocks for becoming literate members of the community. That probably means that you’ve noted … Read more

  • Living in the Arena: Courageous Leadership

    By Michelle Walker July 27, 2020

    ‘If you are not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback!’        Brene Brown. Living in the ‘Arena’ of leadership means you are going to get dirty; you are going to fail, and not everyone is going to agree with what you do or say. In my 25 years … Read more

  • Restorative Conversations

    By Anthony Semann July 20, 2020

    We all have moments at work where we either want to scream or stomp a little! When communicating with colleagues becomes difficult or near impossible we need a new strategy to overcome the ‘communication hurdle’. A brillant tool for achieving this goal is called Restorative Practice, or as I like to call them restorative conversations. … Read more