Should your educators be changing rooms in 2026?

As 2025 draws to a close, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia are turning their attention to the year ahead, revisiting staffing structures, refining programs, and considering how best to support children’s learning, relationships and continuity of care. One of the most common and often most complex questions leaders face at this time of year is: Should our educators be changing rooms?

In his latest blog, early childhood expert Adrian Pattra‑McLean, management consultant and founder of Farran Street Education, unpacks this question with his signature blend of clarity, curiosity and respect for educator and child experience. Drawing on years of consultancy experience and practical work with ECEC teams around Australia, Adrian invites leaders to pause, reflect, and consider the why behind their room movements.

The blog, titled “Should Your Educators Be Changing Rooms in 2026?”, explores the impact that routine annual room shifts can have, not just on logistics or staffing, but on team culture, educator identity, and most importantly, the relationships that sit at the heart of quality early learning.

Adrian acknowledges the historical and operational reasons services have moved educators between rooms year-to-year, but raises a critical point: “Just because it’s always been done that way, doesn’t mean it’s still serving children or the educators who care for them.”

The piece offers practical prompts to guide leadership reflection, including:

• What do our staffing decisions say about our image of the educator?
• How do we balance fresh eyes with relationship continuity?
• Could this be the year we rethink how we plan educator movements?

With the EYLF (V2.0) and sector frameworks placing stronger emphasis on relational pedagogy, child safety, and professional collaboration, the article is both timely and deeply relevant. It encourages leaders to look beyond habit or convenience, and instead prioritise decisions that align with service philosophy, child needs, and workforce sustainability.

For anyone involved in rostering, room planning or team mentoring, Adrian’s blog offers respecting challenges, clear guidance, and a strong case for reflective, values-based leadership in 2026.

Read the full blog here: Should Your Educators Be Changing Rooms in 2026?