EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE PROGRAM KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION PACK

INFORMATION PACK CONTENTSEARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE PROGRAM...............................................................................3

About this Information Pack............................................................................................................3Program Options.............................................................................................................................3

Language selection.........................................................................................................................3CONSULTING WITH YOUR KINDERGARTEN COMMUNITY......................................................4

School Community Consultation – Sample Text/Email................................................................5

Parent and Kindergarten Community Consultation – Sample Text/Email...................................6

Parent and Kindergarten Community Consultation – Sample Survey.........................................7

Expression of Interest.....................................................................................................................8

Melbourne May 23©State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training) 2017The copyright in this document is owned by the State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training), or in the case of some materials, by third parties (third party materials). No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, the National Education Access Licence for Schools (NEALS) (see below) or with permission.An educational institution situated in Australia which is not conducted for profit, or a body responsible for administering such an institution may copy and communicate the materials, other than third party materials, for the educational purposes of the institution.Authorised by the Department of Education and Training,2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002

EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE PROGRAMFor the first time, the Victorian Government has provided $17.9 million over four years to help kindergarten children get the best start in life by giving them the opportunity to learn in another language. The Victorian Government Early Childhood Language Program will be introduced to around 130 state-funded kindergartens from 2019.

ABOUT THIS INFORMATION PACKThis information pack has been designed to provide eligible early childhood services with information about the new Early Childhood Language Program and guidance in consulting with your community.

PROGRAM OPTIONSThis initiative is fully government funded and involves no extra expense for parents or eligible services. It is open to eligible early childhood services with a state-funded kindergarten program, including those that already have a language program.

There are two types of program options for eligible services:

Learn Languages at Kindergarten Program: This option involves children learning in another language for up to three hours per week. This will be offered across 120 kindergartens.

Bilingual Kindergarten: This option involves children learning in another language for up to 7.5 hours a week, which is half of their weekly funded kindergarten program. Up to 10 kindergartens across Victoria will receive funding to transition to this model.

In both options, additional qualified staff will deliver the program in partnership with existing teachers.

Funding is available for early childhood services offering a state-funded kindergarten program rated as meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard.

The Early Childhood Language Program will be delivered in line with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework which guides kindergarten programs in Victoria. Children will continue to be encouraged to learn through exploration, problem solving, communication and creating and constructing ideas through play, art, music and stories.

LANGUAGE SELECTIONEvery kindergarten is different. Eligible services and their local communities can recommend which language and program option is best for them. This includes Aboriginal languages and Auslan.

Even more important than the choice of language is the long-term advantages of improved literacy and communication skills being developed at an early age.

The choice of what languages to teach in the program will be guided by communities and each kindergarten’s interests and the availability of qualified staff.

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Preschool communities from all over the state are encouraged to have a say in which language could be offered in their kindergarten program. This will depend on factors such as:

the diversity of the community

languages spoken by children who are newly arrived or have refugee backgrounds

continuity in language education at nearby primary schools

parent and community feedback.

CONSULTING WITH YOUR KINDERGARTEN COMMUNITYKindergartens need to consult with families, educators, and other relevant community groups, and demonstrate there is strong support before applying for the program via an Expression of Interest process.

This information pack has been developed to help kindergartens:

determine levels of parent, educator and community support

identify which of the two program options could work best, or if the kindergarten would be interested in both

identify preferred languages.

The Department has prepared a range of tools and guidance to support you in these consultations.

Consulting with educators and staff Holding a staff briefing session could be a useful way to let your staff know about the

program and get a sense of their views.

Materials are available on the website to assist you including a brochure and short PowerPoint presentation.

In addition to discussing the initiative and its practical implications, the discussion could include an outline of how the kindergarten community will be consulted.

Consulting with parents and carers You may leverage existing communication channels to provide information to parents and

carers such as websites, weekly newsletters, noticeboards, and communication through parent representatives in each group.

This information pack includes a sample introductory letter/email template for parents to assist you in this process.

It is important to find out about parents’ enthusiasm for the program, which of the two program options they prefer, and if they have a preference for the languages that could be offered.

An expert video is available if parents are interested in finding out about the benefits of children learning another language EMBED the link.

You may find it helpful to undertake a brief survey of your kindergarten community. This information pack includes suggested survey questions. The survey can be distributed by hard copy or uploaded onto an online program, such as Survey Monkey.

If parents have additional questions, please direct them to the Department of Education and Training’s website for more information www.education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages or parents can email questions to EC.Languages@edumail.vic.gov.au

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Consulting with your local school community Through your existing relationships and any feeder school arrangements, your kindergarten

may already know what languages are being taught at local primary schools.

Gathering information for this program is an opportunity to make contact with primary schools, check what programs are currently offered, and at what year levels. This will help inform your Expression of Interest.

The Department of Education and Training publishes the Languages Provision in Victorian Government Schools report which contains data analysis of languages education in Victorian government schools. The report is based on information collected via the annual schools census conducted in August.

The Department of Education and Training has developed an interactive map that includes some demographic information about kindergartens, primary schools and local government areas. The map is be available via the website: www. education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages

The following sample text may assist you with consulting your local primary schools about their language programs.

School Community Consultation – Sample Text/Email The following sample text may assist you with consulting local primary schools about the Early Childhood Language Program.

Dear Principal (Primary School)

Our kindergarten has the opportunity to apply to be part of the new Victorian Government Early Childhood Language Program, where kindergarten children will learn in another language.

As part of developing our Expression of Interest (EOI), we are talking to local primary schools about the language programs they offer to help inform our language selection and understand our local community.

The Languages Provision in Victorian Government Schools report says that your school offers a prep level language program in [insert language].

Will this program be offered in 2019?

Does the teacher delivering the program have a dual qualification in Early Childhood?

What are your thoughts about our kindergarten delivering a language program?

More detailed information about the Early Childhood Language Program is available at: www.education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages

Thank you for your time.

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Parent and Kindergarten Community Consultation – Sample Text/EmailThe following sample text may assist you with consulting parents and kindergarten community members about the Early Childhood Language Program.

Dear [insert name]

Our kindergarten has the opportunity to apply to be part of the new Victorian Government Early Childhood Language Program, where kindergarten children will learn in another language.

Please click on the link [or fill in the hard copy] to provide your thoughts via a short survey about this program being available at our kindergarten. Your input will help decide whether we pursue this opportunity.

The Victorian Government Early Childhood Language Program will be introduced in 2019 to give preschool children the opportunity to learn in another language. There are two types of program options:

1. Learn Languages at Kindergarten Program : This option involves children learning in another language for up to three hours per week in their kindergarten program. This will be offered across 120 kindergartens.

2. Bilingual Kindergarten : This option involves children learning in another language for up to 7.5 hours a week, which is half of their weekly funded kindergarten program. Up to 10 kindergartens across Victoria will receive funding to transition to this model.

We need to decide which type of program we would prefer, and what language would be most relevant to our children and community.

The new language program will be taught by additional qualified staff in partnership with existing staff. The program is fully funded by the Victorian Government, with no extra expense to parents or kindergartens.

There are many benefits to children learning another language, including: increased reading and writing skills, cognitive flexibility, strengthened brain development and improved problem solving skills. It also gives children a richer understanding of how languages work and can bolster self-esteem and strengthen cultural identity. A video that explains these benefits is available here .

The program also recognises that through encouraging diverse language skills in our kindergartens, Victorians can build stronger local communities and prepare children for an increasingly connected world later in life.

If we want to offer an Early Childhood Language Program at our kindergarten, we need to submit an Expression of Interest form to the Department of Education and Training by mid-August. Finding out what you think is an important part of this.

Please click on the link [or fill in the hard copy] to provide your thoughts via a short survey and respond by Friday July 27 (suggested date).

More detailed information about the Early Childhood Language Program is available at: www.education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages

Thank you for your time.

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Parent and Kindergarten Community Consultation – Sample SurveyThe following sample survey text may assist you with consulting parents and kindergarten community members about the Early Childhood Language Program.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE CONSULTATION

The Victorian Government Early Childhood Language Program will be introduced in 130 state-funded kindergartens in 2019.

Full information about the program is available on the website: www.education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages

This brief survey aims to find out what you think about learning in a language being available at our kindergarten.

Suggested date for responses: due by Friday 27 July.

SURVEY QUESTIONS ANSWER OPTIONS

1. Do you currently have a child at this centre? Yes / No

2. Will you have a child at this centre in 2019? Yes / No / Not sure

3. Should our centre submit an Expression of Interest to participate in this program from 2019?

Yes / No / Not sure

4. Which model do you support for our centre?

a. Learn Languages at Kindergarten Program (up to 3 hours per week)

b. Bilingual Kindergarten (up to 7.5 hours per week)

c. Both programs

Select one only

5. Do you have a preference for particular languages to be taught at our centre?

If yes, please go to Question 6.

If no, please go to Question 7.

Yes / No

6. Please specify your three most preferred languages in the box below.

First preference

Second preference

Third preference

Free text

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EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE CONSULTATION

7. To what extent do you agree / disagree with the following statements?

a. I am happy to be guided by the kindergarten's recommendation regarding the choice of language to be taught.

b. I am happy to be guided by what our neighbouring schools are teaching as an additional language.

c. Learning an additional language is valuable and important in the 21st century.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

8. What other comments do you have about our possible participation in this program that you would like us to hear?

Free text

Thank you for taking part in the survey.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST If applicable, your service will need the support of the approved provider to submit an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest open in mid-July 2018 and must be received by mid-August 2018.

Expressions of Interest will be submitted online. More information about the Early Childhood Language Program is available at: www.education.vic.gov.au/eclanguages

For further enquiries, please email: EC.Languages@edumail.vic.gov.au

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