Insights on implementation in early education: Deliberate and structured approach the key to embedding evidence-based practice in early education 

The Australian Education Research Organisation has published findings from a project involving  19 early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, identifying key insights into embedding  evidence-based practice. 

The ECEC Insights into Implementation paper, has been released, emphasises the importance of a deliberate and structured approach to implementation and the need to tailor implementation work to the specific context of an ECEC setting so that improvements can be sustained over time.  

It also highlights the importance of obtaining staff buy-in by clearly identifying and articulating the need for change, establishing collaborative leadership, and building supportive relationships, both within the service and with other services also engaged in the process of  implementation. 

The insights have emerged from AERO’s ongoing Learning Partner project, which commenced in 2023. 

AERO Chief Executive Officer Jenny Donovan said the work provided important insights that could help educators and teachers embed evidence-based practices linked with improving  children’s learning and development outcomes. 

“Implementation is a purposeful sequence of planned activities designed to integrate evidence based practices into real-world settings,” Dr Donovan said.  

“For many reasons, implementation is often ad hoc and does not get the attention or support it should, and initial enthusiasm for promising new evidence-based approaches may fade or become forgotten as other priorities arise. 

“AERO acknowledges there is a real need for a deeper understanding of the implementation process in ECEC, including a better understanding of the missing link between evidence-based practices and improved teacher and educator practice. 

“We are pleased to be able to work so closely with teachers, educators and service leaders to build and share the evidence base around what effective implementation looks like.” 

The AERO 2023 and 2024 ECEC Learning Partner project involved 19 centre-based long day care centres, family day care schemes, and preschool services in NSW, ACT and Tasmania.

Over the course of the project, AERO ECEC Implementation Consultants provided guidance and support as ECEC services worked to enhance the evidence-based practice of ‘assessment for  learning’ using AERO’s Early Childhood Learning Trajectories as the supporting resource.  

The learning trajectories, developed across five domains of learning, executive functions, social and emotional learning, mathematical thinking, language and communication and physical development, are designed to be used with children from birth to the year before full-time schooling and are aligned with the National Quality Standard and the Early Years Learning Framework 2.0. 

Feedback, observations and reflections from ECEC service partners and AERO ECEC Implementation Consultants have informed the insights paper. 

AERO is continuing to partner with services to learn about promising approaches to  implementing evidence-based practices. 

The ECEC Insights into Implementation paper is available here.