NCEC meets in Adelaide for annual Early Childhood Education Network Group gathering

Freya Lucas

Oct 19, 2023

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The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) Early Childhood Education Network Group met up in Adelaide recently for its annual face-to-face network meeting.

Topics of discussion included the recently announced Preschool Outcome Measurement (POM) tool, best practices for transitioning children to school and the final report of the South Australian Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education.

The network group also looked in detail at 13 recommendations of the South Australian Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. In line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission, Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) will be expanding their centres in areas of greatest need with 10 new centres being planned over the next few years.

During the annual event the group also visited two early learning centres co-located on school sites - Holy Family Parafield Gardens and Alive Catholic Early Learning in Mount Barker, where the group observed early learning environments, and the strong focus on ecology, sustainability and nature evident in both centres.

At Holy Family, the early learning centre is part of the school, with the group speaking with the principal Kerry White, teaching staff and some of the young children. The Alive Catholic Early Learning Centre is located at St Francis de Sales College, Mt Barker. While run independently to the school, NCEC Senior Education Advisor Joanna Mackie said the centre was making some strong progress on transitioning young students into the school with children participating in learning experiences with the primary school including STEM learning ecologies, book week and buddy opportunities.

Thanks go to CESA and Dr Neil McGoran, Director, Catholic Education South Australia for hosting the informative two-day event.

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