Practice uplift program brings changes across Goodstart network

Goodstart Early Learning services across the country are benefiting from a practice uplift program of support and guidance which is part of a continuous journey of quality improvement across its network. 

In 2022 program participant Goodstart Currumbin Waters was recognised for its achievements, being awarded the National Goodies Award for Enabling Environments – Most Improved. The centre team won this highly coveted award for demonstrating exceptional improvements to their centre environments to extend children’s learning and development.

“While Goodstart centres are exceeding the sector average with more than 98 per cent of centres Meeting or Exceeding the National Quality Standard, we’re always looking to do more,” Sue Robb, Goodstart’s General Manager of Pedagogy and Practice explained.

“Goodstart Currumbin Waters is a shining example of a centre team who work tirelessly to reflect on their everyday practice against best practice. For this team, improving their enabling environments to promote and extend children’s learning has been a key focus over the past 12 months.”

Throughout the program, services learn more about the concept of enabling environments – those indoor and outdoor environments which promote and extend children’s interests and engagement to maximise their learning and development. 

Great enabling environments, Ms Robb explained, have been intentionally considered to support teaching and learning for all children and provide opportunities for both planned and spontaneous teaching and learning.  

“This centre has created wonderful enabling environments where children’s voices sing through their choice of materials and resources and their display.”

Practice uplift journey takes shape at Goodstart Currumbin Waters

Over a 12-month journey, the team challenged themselves to reflect on their current ways of working and created a strategy to excel across all learning environments in the centre. 

This began with the team embracing the internationally renowned Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) and through self-assessment finding opportunities for improvement such as integrating more literacy and numeracy into their physical environments.

“Environments are the third teacher, and they set the scene for whatever happens with children’s learning,” Kindergarten teacher Sonia Rodrigue explained. 

“We aim to ensure that every child can be engaged, and when they are they’re wanting to learn, they’re listening and they’re having these great conversations and great engagement with the learning materials and that’s what validates that that we’re doing a good job.”

Ms Rodrigue said the Goodies Award was simply “the icing on the cake”, and was one which gave the whole centre an uplift and a feeling of joy and appreciation from Goodstart.

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