VEYLDF Alignment
Item uses these practice principles: Reflective practice, Partnerships with families, High expectations of every child, Respectful relationships and responsive engagement, Equity and diversity.
Item responds to these sub-outcomes: Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing
Description
Playspace® Learning aims to bring a secure base culture to kindergarten services. In a secure base culture, everyone can feel safe, easily ask for help, and experience connections. Educators learn the Playspace® structure, which teaches strategies to be more emotionally available to support children’s self-regulation. In Playspaces®, educators:
1) welcome children and families into their service in the morning using a visual aide;
2) facilitate the Launch to Explore transition to support children to land and settle so they are able to observe and join the interests of their peers in small group play, and;
3) offer a predictable reunion transition, including a child-led story shared with the family.
Playspace includes 10 hours of foundational learning and 10 hours of reflective practice. In the foundational learning, educators learn the Playspace Structure and relational transitions. In reflective practice, educators recruit one family to practise their learnings, film their practice with the family, then review the video recordings in reflective mentoring - where educators are able to explore their feelings and thoughts about the children to deepen their understanding of children's emotional communications.
Detailed Costs
Playspace Learning: $8,000 (for services with more than 12 participants in the reflective practice component, an additional charge of $350 is required per extra participant)
Travel and accommodation expenses are additional when training is offered face-to-face outside of the Sydney metropolitan area. Contact the provider directly for further details.
Implementation Considerations
Target population: educators and any other early childhood professionals within the kindergarten.
Program/practice descriptions and details: the program consists of 10 foundational hours, which is available for all educators in the kindergarten, and 10 hours of reflective practice for a maximum of 12 participants (additional costs apply for extra participants). The participants undertaking reflexive practice have one month to recruit a family and practise the relational transition routines. Educators will be provided with a recruitment package for families, which includes information and consent forms for families. All educators in the kindergarten will be given access to the Two Rowing-Boats animation, and information leaflets about the stepping stones involved in each relational transition.
Program adaptability: training can be offered face-to-face, online or in a combination of these formats.
Staffing: training can be offered outside work hours in the evening or a Saturday morning.
Supervision/Coaching: online master classes are offered on a regular and ongoing basis to support implementation of the training once kindergartens have undergone the 20-hours of Playspace Learning. Educators also have the opportunity to book regular times for ongoing reflexive mentoring.
Tools and systems: educators going on to do the reflective practice hours will need access to a recording device to device record each other carrying out the relational transition routines.
Priority Area
Wellbeing (social and emotional), Access and inclusion
Strength of Evidence
Level 4 - Emerging research evidence