Early Childhood Education

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June 21 & 22Pan Pacific HotelAdelaide Terrace Perth WA

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2019 WA State Conference

Back to Basics: It’s all about the child!

… exploring and developing the principles and practices of early childhood education

Back To Basics: It’s all about the child!

Welcome to the Early Childhood Education 2019 WA State Conference

The Conference will actively engage early childhood educators in 2 key themes

1. Education principles, practices and outcomes to help children be, belong and become all that they can ….2. Developing early childhood teacher competence to help YOU be, belong and become the very best that YOU can …

The Conference provides an outstanding, affordable professional learning opportunity for early childhood educators from across Western Australia who seeking to continuously improve their classroom practices. The program features three key teaching and learning streams including -

1. Language, Literacy and Learning a. Language development strategy in action b. Writing skill development c. Digital literacy development d. STEM learning practices

2. Physical Movement and Play-based Learning a. Exemplar play based teaching and learning practice b. Learning through physical movement

3. Child Resilience, Relationships and Identity a. Developing resilience, regulation and relationships strategies for the classroom

These three teaching and learning streams align most directly with the following Quality Areas from the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education

Education Program and Practice … to ensure that the educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging, and enhances children’s learning and development… Relationships with Children … to promote relationships with children that are responsive, respectful and promote children’s sense of security and belonging …

Delegates will be able to select sessions within the program that best meet their professional learning needs. The program features innovations designed to make this conference your best and most affordable professional learning opportunity for 2019. Concurrent sessions have allocated 90 minutes to enable quality, in depth instruction and interactive learning.

Schools sending more than one delegate to both days receive a $50 plus GST discount for the second and all subsequent registrations. In addition, every delegate receives a 25% voucher off all future 2019 professional learning events presented by The Learning Hub.

Other innovations for this event include • barista brewed coffee• 90 minute concurrent workshops designed for the classroom practitioner• share plates and practices afternoon tea• an “after school” wine and cheese panel session featuring representatives from DoE, AISWA and CEO (Friday)• a “before school” breakfast session (Saturday)• An inspiring “daily work pad” program packed full of quality sessions and displays across 2 days

Early bird registrations close on MARCH 22 2019 after which registrations will remain open up until the event is SOLD OUT. Don’t miss out! Book early and save!

Jen McVeity

Meet our Speakers

Often called a human dynamo, Jen McVeity has written 23 books, is a Churchill Fellow, has been named on the Educator Hot List 3 years in a row, and she flies on a circus trapeze! Fast-moving, fun and always practical, Jen McVeity has inspired audiences in Asia, Australia and eleven states of the USA. A former teacher, Jen is best known as the unique creator of the Seven Steps to Writing Success – over 45,000 teachers and 1.4 million students have been trained in the program.

Claire Orange

Claire Orange is the mother of 4 boys, a therapist, author, media spokesperson, speaker and a passionate advocate for better outcomes for children everywhere. Graduating as a Speech Pathologist (B Sci Speech & Hearing Science, Hons) in the early 90’s, Claire has also completed qualifi-cations in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Resilience Education, Counselling and Parenting Coaching. She has working in major teaching hospitals and community health centres across the world.

In 2015, Claire partnered with Helen Davidson to form BEST Programs 4 Kids. Together they have co-authored 14 books on Social and Emotional Learning including an Early Years Social Skills Kit and 4 part classroom curricu-lum linked to the Australian National Curriculum. Claire appears as the resident Parenting Expert on Channel Nine, 6PR-882 radio and ABC radio. She is a passionate advocate for preventative measures in children’s mental health that help all children and their families to flourish.

Rebecca Duncan

Rebecca Duncan has been an early childhood consultant for the Association of Independent Schools of WA (AISWA) since 2010. Rebecca is a passionate advocate for quality pedagogical practices in which young children flourish. This role has included the development of a wide variety of projects and professional learning opportunities to support educators and leaders, including writing teacher resource publications such as the Early Years Learning Framework: In Action, Playing with the Australian Curriculum: Meeting the Standards through Play-based Pedagogies, and most recently, Journeys of Inquiry. Rebecca has extensive experience as a classroom educa-tor, during which she received a National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA WA), and has also undertaken a range of leadership roles throughout her career.

Dr Sandra Hesterman

Dr Sandra Hesterman is Director Early Childhood Educa-tion and senior lecturer in early literacy learning at Murdoch University, Western Australia. Prior to working at Murdoch, Sandra taught extensively in WA early child-hood and primary school classrooms across the public and independent sector; in both metropolitan and rural schools, also in Alberta Canada. Sandra is a strong advocate for the rights of young children and is presently campaigning for the development of a government-led WA Play Strategy to ensure children’s universal access to high quality play experiences to optimise their learning, development and well-being, and for their voice to be heard on all matters affecting them - no matter where they live and who they are.

Rebecca Thompson

Rebecca Thompson (M Ed) is a supportive and inspiration-al mentor who is the principle consultant of Stone & Sprocket, an education consultancy and bush playgroup business on the Central Coast of NSW, Australia. Rebecca has a wealth of knowledge and experience that spans across 20 years in a variety of early childhood, early intervention, primary school and adult learning environ-ments. Rebecca prides herself with a long standing commitment to advocacy on the right for every child to access high quality care and education. This commitment has seen her involved action research and improvement of quality care for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. More recently Rebecca works with services in her local community to bring new light to children’s behaviour and the way this is supported through the consideration of the natural environment and inclusive practice. She is well known for her holistic approach and specific strategies in getting to the root of the problem.

Associate Professor Dr Lorraine Hammond

Dr Lorraine Hammond is an Associate Professor at the School of Education at Edith Cowan University. Lorraine divides her time between research projects on high impact instruction, teaching pre- and in-service teachers, supervising higher degree students and writing and delivering professional learning for The Kimberley Schools Project. Lorraine is the Chair, Deputy Chair and Board Member of three high performing schools in WA. Lorraine is the President of Learning Difficulties Australia.

Brooke Wardana

Meet our Speakers

Brooke Wardana is an outstanding early years and primary school teacher who featured in the documentary Outside the Square. She teaches at a high performing school in Western Australia and provides professional learning and consultancy support to schools across Australia. Brooke is a sessional lecturer at Edith Cowan University.

Ben Durant

Ben Durant is passionate about the interplay between academic schooling and what we understand about the importance of play to a child's development. Ben encour-ages teachers to think critically about the balance and what it means to them. In his role with The Bluearth Foundation, Ben has been encouraging and assisting teachers from Kununurra to Alice Springs and all over Perth to find this balance in their own teaching practice by sharing easy to use techniques, games, activities and interactivity.

Vanessa Alaniz

Vanessa has been an early childhood practitioner for nearly twenty years, working both in the classroom and leading outstanding early childhood practice as an early childhood manager within the school where she is Assis-tant Principal. Vanessa has led Child Australia sessions for school and child care educators under the Revolution Learning banner. She believes in beginning with the child, building strong relationships and a good knowledge of PEOPLE. Curriculum builds on these strong founda-tions. Vanessa believes that first focusing on the child and those people who have an impact on the child’s life means that each child’s needs, strengths and interests are what leads classroom practice to benefit all involved.

Amanda Macdonald

Amanda Macdonald is the Early Childhood Liaison Officer for the ELLA (Early Learning Languages Australia) Program. As part of the ELLA Team, Amanda delivers workshops and professional learning and supports educa-tors as they engage in language experiences and digital technology. With a MEd in Special Education and over twenty years’ experience teaching preschoolers, Amanda is passionate about inclusive education. She is mindful of supporting the differing needs of individual children, teachers and preschools.

Marlene Rattigan

Marlene Rattigan is a former Early Childhood teacher, now a teacher of English as a Second Language and from 1987-2000 was an AFAC accredited fitness leader. She has a background in music. These combined skills, together with a keen interest in motor development in children, led to the creation of the first Kidz-Fiz-Biz (Physical Business for Kids) music and movement classes in 1988. Since then she has produced three books based on the program. Marlene educates and empowers teachers and parents and anyone else involved with young children via her newsletters and workshops.

Robin McKean

Robin McKean is the Western Australian CSER (Computer Science Educational Research) Digital Technologies Project Officer with the University of Adelaide. In this role, she structures professional learning programs within schools (K-10) that are designed to promote motivation and engagement with Digital Technologies in accordance with their key role in Australia’s educational future. She is and active committee member of the Educational Com-puting Association of Western Australia and enjoys her role as a Primary Helper for the History Teachers Associa-tion of Western Australia.

Ron GormanDeputy DirectorAISWA

Fran Italiano Team Leader Early Years Learning and Care CEOWA

Dr Rosemary CahillDirector, Early Childhood Education, Literacy and Numeracy DOE

Registration Options

Early Bird Standard Conference Package closes March 22Includes program and catering for Friday and Saturday

Standard Conference Package Includes program and catering for Friday and Saturday

Friday OnlyIncludes program and catering for Friday only

Saturday OnlyIncludes program and catering for Saturday only

All prices exclude GST & card transaction fees

$ 445

$ 495

$ 345

Step 1 Read the Registration Brochure and select the components of the Conference that you wish to attend including your accommodation and concurrent session selections

Step 2 Decide if you are going to pay by credit card when you register online or if you wish to receive a Tax Invoice and pay later by cheque / EFT / credit card

Step 3 The URL for your Event Registration Page is: https://www.secureregistrations.com/2019ECESTATECONFERENCE/

Step 4 Delegates will receive an email reply to say that your registration has been received successfully

Step 5 Delegates will receive a Tax Invoice / Receipt by email from Events WA. Tax Invoices will include details of payment methods. Payments are to be made in full pre conference. If your school is paying for your registration you will have to pass the Tax Invoice / Receipt to your accounts personnel. Shared payments (school / personal) are acceptable by credit card / EFT combinations.

Step 6 Delegates will receive a Delegate Confirmation letter by email from Events WA to confirm details of registration and advise further information about the Conference

It is recommended that you add ralph@eventswa.com.au to your contacts to prevent correspondence being filtered into your Junk Mail folder

Cancellations will be assessed on a case by case basis. Full refunds will only be granted if replacement registrations are received. Refunds will exclude accommodation, food and beverage costs once confirmed, due to contractual arrangements with venues & suppliers. Places for some sessions are limited. Be early to avoid disappointment and to register your session selections.

$ 345

To Register

p 08 9478 1600 m 0412 464 371 e ralph@eventswa.com.au a PO BOX 43 Burswood WA 6100

Registration Enquiries

Guiding Children's Behaviour and Building ResilienceRebecca Thompson

ProgramFriday June 21

8.00 - 8.45

8.45 - 8.55

8.55 - 9.10

9.10 - 10.15

Registration & coffee on arrival

Conference Opening Welcome

Plenary Address

Keynote Address - Catching CreativityJen McVeity

Foyer 3

Grand River Ballroom

Grand River Ballroom

Grand River Ballroom

10.15 - 11.00 Morning Tea Exhibition

Session 1A 10% in 10 Weeks – How Schools Advanced their Writing DataJen McVeity

Foyer 3

"Kids get netball practice, soccer practice - I think there needs to be daydreaming practice". (Jackie French, author.) There’s a common misconception that creativity is reserved for the special few. Those creatives, born gifted, able to invoke originality and wield wild imaginations from some mysterious and secret place. The truth is, creativity can be practised and taught. The question is, are we teaching it to our students? With pressures of curriculum overload, NAPLAN standardised tests and helicopter parents, the emphasis has shifted away from great communication and towards more basic things like spelling and grammar. This along with the ubiquitous formulaic writing has silenced students’ creative voice. The EY classrooms are the most creative, students are still prepared to take risks. Plus learning and classrooms should be fun! So how to strengthen those key strengths and keep them going? In this interactive session, take up the challenge to generate over 20 ideas with others in just a few minutes. Hear how top Australian authors approach creation and planning. Plus discover the three research-backed ways of generating original ideas that can bring student writing back to life. Wrapping up the session, Jen McVeity re-enacts a powerful scene from her novel Shadow Seeker which will leave you inspired to take action.

‘The students are now excited about writing!’ Three inspirational case studies reveal how teachers managed to rapidly improve their writing data – sometimes in less than a term. They share how best practice classroom strategies such as collaboration, verbalisation and chunking can be used in conjunction with the Seven Steps writing resources to change the culture of writing in their classroom. It’s not just about improving data either, students are engaged and active learners – and excited about writing.

Session 1B Engaging Physical Activity and Play in the Early Years: The Bluearth ApproachBen Durant

In this session we will explore the Bluearth approach to promoting health and wellness in the early years and later. The Bluearth Foundation have provided professional development to early years and primary educators in Perth since 2004. We will explore what it means to be active in the early years by sharing Bluearth’s early years engagement model involving exploration, engagement and extending children's discovered abilities during play. This wil involve various activities promoting motor development and social inclusion in the early years (k-3). We will also share the importance and some activities to ensure educators are looking after their own health and wellness. Come equipped with an open mind and ready to have fun.

11.00 - 12.30 Concurrent Session 1

Session 1C

Challenging behaviours in the classroom are becoming a large part of what we spend our day on as teachers. This workshop is designed to shift your perspective on children's behaviour and provide you with strategies informed by functional behaviour assessment. Rebecca uses an analogy to guide you through an example of a challenge by; identifying and describing behaviour to observe it, discussing the function or reasons for behaviour, how to respond to behaviour and how to build a healthy climate of respect and responsibility in your classroom without over doing stickers and reward charts.

Research tells us that children learn best through playing and doing. So, how can the literacy and numeracy learning be embedded in a playful classroom and outdoor environment? In this session, we will consider integrating the curriculum, assessing through play, keeping children moving and engaged in their learning, supporting and educating parents and families and using the environment to enhance the learning – all while taking into consideration the NQS and EYLF. Teachers will be involved in practical experiences that they can take back to their early years classrooms and use immediately.

Session 1D A Playful CurriculumVanessa Alaniz

12.30 - 1.15 Lunch Exhibition Foyer 3

Guiding Children's Behaviour and Building ResilienceRebecca Thompson

ProgramFriday June 21

2.45 - 3.30 Afternoon Tea Share Plates Exhibition Foyer 3

Session 2A Sentence Level Writing: Where to start? Lorraine Hammond and Brooke Wardana

Writing is an essential skill for academic success and a crucial part of communication and critical thinking, yet is considered to be one of the most difficult academic areas to teach, learn and master as it involves the integration of many different skills and knowledge (Graham, Gillespie, & McKeown, 2013). Beginning with oral language activities, this session will provide participants with a scope and sequence on where to begin with teaching writing. The presenters will demonstrate how to explicitly teach the phonological awareness, letter knowledge skills, handwriting and sentence grammar required to begin to put pen to paper in K-3 classrooms.

Session 2B ELLA: an innovative digital language learning programAmanda Macdonald

Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) is a key part of the Australian Government’s commitment to supporting language learning. ELLA was first trialled in 2015 to provide preschool children with exposure to the basics of language other than English, to help address barriers to language education in the early years and to encourage further language learning in later years of schooling. The trial resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback and a high level of engagement from educators, children and families. ELLA is now implemented in 3,500 preschools around Australia and a three year, Foundation to Year 2 schools trial has commenced in 2019. Participants will discuss the opportunities this provides for children in the early years of education. This workshop looks at the potential to provide additional language experiences for children incorporating tablet technology use in a play-based curriculum. ELLA introduces children to learning a new language through fun, interactive digital tablet apps. These apps align with the five learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum- Languages. It also includes a suite of resource materials, to support the effective delivery of early language experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the ELLA Polyglots apps and discuss the ways digital play can be linked to more traditional play types.

1.15 - 2.45 Concurrent Session 2

Session 2C

Challenging behaviours in the classroom are becoming a large part of what we spend our day on as teachers. This workshop is designed to shift your perspective on children's behaviour and provide you with strategies informed by functional behaviour assessment. Rebecca uses an analogy to guide you through an example of a challenge by; identifying and describing behaviour to observe it, discussing the function or reasons for behaviour, how to respond to behaviour and how to build a healthy climate of respect and responsibility in your classroom without over doing stickers and reward charts.

Young children learn by doing, by being actively involved in their own learning through exploring and experimenting, through copying and acting out. And so it is with learning music, the foundations for which are best learnt while developing primary language because music is another language. As such, a successful early childhood music program must incorporate movement (including dance) and should quite naturally involve learning across the curriculum. It is important to bear in mind that not every child will naturally take to singing or learning to play a musical instrument, but EVERY child has the right to a musical education. Physical expression through dance and drama is the way some children prefer to enjoy their musical experience. Enormous research has been conducted over recent years about brain development in infants and young children, specifically the roles of both music and of movement. Music activates the whole brain and movement is enhanced by music so they naturally go hand in hand. What is more, when you add music to movement, it is much more FUN! That is a key component of engaging young children. Furthermore, our increasingly sedentary population is having an enormous impact on young children with alarming consequences for their physical and mental development. Getting children more active in a formal environment like school has to be paramount. If the movement is not fun, however, this will be an uphill battle. Adding drama, dance and music is the solution. Not every child wants to be an athlete and young children, in particular, don’t understand the notion of competition. They just want to play. This session is designed especially for those without a dance or music background. It will assist you to immeasurably improve the lives of the children in your care by incorporating simple but very effective activities throughout the day. Having fun is absolutely essential.

Sector Updates on Current Early Childhood Education Matters including the EYLF and NQS Audits - a panel session with • Dr Rosemary Cahill (Director, Early Childhood Education, Literacy and Numeracy Department of Education)• Fran Italiano (Team Leader Early Years Learning and Care Catholic Education Office of Western Australia)• Ron Gorman Deputy Director, AISWA

Session 2D Incorporating Music and Movement in the Early Childhood Classroom Marlene Rattigan

3.30 - 4.30 Afterschool Meeting - served with wine and cheese Grand River Ballroom

The Long Road to Resilience … let the journey begin Claire Orange

Registration & coffee on arrival

Conference welcome

Plenary address

Keynote Address - A Stitch in Time Saves NineActivating the foundations of success in childhood Claire Orange

ProgramSaturday June 22

8.00 - 8.45

8.45 - 8.55

8.55 - 9.10

9.10 - 10.15

Foyer 3

Grand River Ballroom

Grand River Ballroom

Grand River Ballroom

Session 3A Digital Literacy as a Playground Robin McKean

We’re raising children in a world very different to the one we experienced ourselves. Families are busy, children are over-sched-uled, the digital world continues to wrap its invisible arms around our children tighter and earlier. There’s an old saying, ‘A stich in time saves nine’, and it’s so true as our little children’s tapestry of life – the millions of stitches, interactions and experiences come together to form that child’s unique picture. The address will enhance our journey together through the many and complex R’s that weave themselves into every child’s context: Regulation, Relationships, Role Models, Resilience and Respect.

Standardised testing in early childhood education has a direct impact on how teachers teach. This presentation examines the perceptions of Western Australian early childhood teachers on the On-entry Assessment Program in the context of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) implementation. Findings from 365 teachers showed that the assessment program was not aligned with the EYLF, but rather with a government-mandated formal literacy assessment regime that overshadowed teachers’ implementation of the framework and diminished opportunities for children to learn literacy through play-based learning approaches. It is the presenter’s contention that a pedagogy of multiliteracies, first coined by the New London Group (1996), can facilitate children’s learning of literacy in today’s technology rich society. Notably, a pedagogy of multiliteracies invites teachers to consider how different assessment designs accommodate cultural and linguistic diversity.

Participants in this session will be introduced to playful computational thinking activities using a range of digital artefacts that deliver ‘new’ digital literacy learning opportunities to early years students. Participants will share in the learning experiences of our youngest citizens and build, test, debug and fail while creating ‘programs’ that move, shake, beep and have practical actions that provide immediate feedback, develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and allow participation and collaboration in team play and learn how to combine computational thinking with games and storytelling and retelling using picture books and other traditional materials to practise coding you can touch with pattern blocks, beads and LEGO pieces to bring algorithms alive while developing an understanding of precise instructions (algorithms/code) in relation to mathematical concepts, such as number, size, and shape and literacy comprehension through sequencing. By using materials provided, participants will learn how to break down the fundamentals of computa-tion into a set of discrete and tangible concepts that can be expressed in hands-on, tactile ways and use tools that are developmentally appropriate, that encourage open-ended play and that allow the integration of technical skills with expressive arts, math, literacy and cultural explorations. Young kids learn by doing. Who needs screen time? Engage and interact with digital bots to connect with imagination and ‘specifically provide children with authentic opportunities to use symbols in play to represent their learning and construct meaning’. Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009)

Session 3B

Resilience – a buzz word that’s used to label all manner of challenging childhood behaviours and is usually delivered in a sweeping statement like, “His lack of resilience is really holding him back.” The formative early childhood years, and that includes our young ones all the way up to 8, are a time of massive brain development, learning from experiences and building templates that will inform choices, behaviour and thinking right through into adult life. So, let’s talk about in practical and solution focused ways, the long road to resilience that winds its way through childhood. What’s the ONE big Stop sign for every child? What are the TWO skills that help a child to Give Way and get included? And what FOUR skills do little children need when there’s a Winding Road Ahead sign? This workshop will explore these 7 resilience skills and attitudes with activities and practical take-aways.

10.15 - 11.00 Morning Tea Exhibition Foyer 3

11.00 - 12.30 Concurrent Session 3

7.30 - 8.30 Before School Breakfast PlenaryECE Teacher Perceptions of the On-entry Assessment Program for WA SchoolsDr Sandra Hesterman (Murdoch University)

ProgramSaturday June 22

Session 3C Play-Based Learning and the Inquiry Approach Rebecca Thompson

Play is endemic to the human species, purely we feel good when we play. But what does this look like in a classroom and when do children learn? This workshop will provide an insight in to the theories of learning and how to set up a program that is intentional and meets outcomes but is largely driven by play and inquiry. Rebecca will use examples to teach you how to create learning centres and focus groups, how to observe children through a variety of lenses, how to make the learning visible from play and how to document this to satisfy the regulator, colleagues and families.

Play has long been recognised as central to children’s learning. Educators’ understanding of, and responsiveness to, children's play remains vital, even when children enter school. Indeed, play-based and playful pedagogies hold the potential to meet the standards of the curriculum, and beyond. With a particular focus on school contexts, this interactive workshop will specifically hone in on the connections between play and inquiry-based learning. Guided by the essential elements of inquiry, this session will reveal practices that deepen and amplify opportunities for curriculum-connected inquiry within play-based and playful environments. Reflective practice and exploration of case studies from local classrooms will be a feature of this workshop.

Session 3D Amplifying Inquiry Learning within Play Rebecca Duncan

12.30 - 1.15 Lunch Exhibition Foyer 3

Session 4A Digital Literacy as a Playground Robin McKean

Participants in this session will be introduced to playful computational thinking activities using a range of digital artefacts that deliver ‘new’ digital literacy learning opportunities to early years students. Participants will share in the learning experiences of our youngest citizens and build, test, debug and fail while creating ‘programs’ that move, shake, beep and have practical actions that provide immediate feedback, develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and allow participation and collaboration in team play and learn how to combine computational thinking with games and storytelling and retelling using picture books and other traditional materials to practise coding you can touch with pattern blocks, beads and LEGO pieces to bring algorithms alive while developing an understanding of precise instructions (algorithms/code) in relation to mathematical concepts, such as number, size, and shape and literacy comprehension through sequencing. By using materials provided, participants will learn how to break down the fundamentals of computa-tion into a set of discrete and tangible concepts that can be expressed in hands-on, tactile ways and use tools that are developmentally appropriate, that encourage open-ended play and that allow the integration of technical skills with expressive arts, math, literacy and cultural explorations. Young kids learn by doing. Who needs screen time? Engage and interact with digital bots to connect with imagination and ‘specifically provide children with authentic opportunities to use symbols in play to represent their learning and construct meaning’. Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009)

1.15 - 2.45 Concurrent Session 4

Session 4B Learning to Write – Without Writing a WordJen McVeity

Discover how magic tricks, telling jokes and even watching TV can help you teach writing – without students writing a word. Magnify your creativity through group collaboration and games. Generate five Sizzling Starts in just five minutes and try out the hilarious paper fight. Jen McVeity, the author of over 20 books and the creator of the famous Seven Steps to Writing Success program takes you on a journey of empowering your students and unleashing their writing spirit. Used by over 45,000 teachers, the Seven Steps’ key message is that writing is far easier than we think – and a lot more fun!

Session 4C Play-Based Learning and the Inquiry Approach Rebecca Thompson

Play is endemic to the human species, purely we feel good when we play. But what does this look like in a classroom and when do children learn? This workshop will provide an insight in to the theories of learning and how to set up a program that is intentional and meets outcomes but is largely driven by play and inquiry. Rebecca will use examples to teach you how to create learning centres and focus groups, how to observe children through a variety of lenses, how to make the learning visible from play and how to document this to satisfy the regulator, colleagues and families.

ProgramSaturday June 22

Play has long been recognised as central to children’s learning. Educators’ understanding of, and responsiveness to, children's play remains vital, even when children enter school. Indeed, play-based and playful pedagogies hold the potential to meet the standards of the curriculum, and beyond. With a particular focus on school contexts, this interactive workshop will specifically hone in on the connections between play and inquiry-based learning. Guided by the essential elements of inquiry, this session will reveal practices that deepen and amplify opportunities for curriculum-connected inquiry within play-based and playful environments. Reflective practice and exploration of case studies from local classrooms will be a feature of this workshop.

Session 4D Amplifying Inquiry Learning within Play Rebecca Duncan

2.45 - 3.30 Afternoon Tea Share Plates Exhibition Foyer 3

3.30 - 4.00 Conference Close and Reflection Ballroom Grand River Ballroom

The Conference program includes catering, exhibition and networking breaks to enable delegates to meet with colleagues, suppliers and expand professional networks.

Afternoon tea sessions are designed tapas style with “share plates”… each delegate is requested to bring to the confer-ence ONE idea that they use in their classroom that they can share with others over afternoon tea… please assume groups of 4-6 in your preparation for the share plates sessions… something simple but effective…

The following sessions are included in registrations BUT must be selected when registering to reserve your place• Friday’s after school session includes wine and cheese as we wind down the day in a relaxed style whilst engaging • Sector Updates on Current Early Childhood Education Matters including the EYLF and NQS Audits - a panel session featuring experienced personnel from The Department of Education, The Association of Independent Schools WA, and The Catholic Education Office WA

• Saturday’s before school breakfast plenary session • ECE Teacher Perceptions of the On-entry Assessment Program for WA Schools - Dr Sandra Hesterman (Murdoch University)

Professional Networks/Feature Sessions

Accomodation BookingsEvents WA will make all reservations on your behalf when booked online during the registration process (or by email request thereafter). For shared accommodation please contact the person with whom you would wish to share to coordi-nate your intentions prior to completing your registration. Both persons need to select the twin share option and pay half of the cost each. It will be appreciated if you can also email ralph@eventswa.com.au to confirm the arrangements.

If you would like your accommodation booking to be invoiced or paid separately to your registration, please 1. Register to attend the conference without selecting your accommodation requirements2. When you receive your Tax Invoice / confirmation of registration from ralph@eventswa.com.au , send a reply email to advise your arrival / departure dates which we will then manually add to your registration and send a revised invoice

For delegates staying overnight, the Hotel has advised that you may check in upon your arrival. Hotel staff will transfer your luggage to your room as it becomes available. Check out time is by 11 am.

Overlooking the Swan River and foreshore parks, the Pan Pacific Hotel offers a great location only a short walk from the city’s main shopping, dining, and entertainment districts. Beautifully appointed, our 486 guest rooms and suites are a great place to relax, work, or play. Many offer a postcard view of the Swan River and thoughtful touches such as high speed internet access in every room.

Private Room$180.00 per night room only

Twin Share$90.00 per person per night room only

Pan Pacific Hotel

Welcome to The Learning Hub

After 22+ years of creating and managing professional learning events with a wide range of clients, organisations and speakers, we have designed The Learning Hub to enhance the quality of teaching and learning experiences available, and to add to the calendar of events we are privileged to be involved with. The Learning Hub will seek to impact on focus areas within which our expertise, personal interest and / or perceived need are greatest, including – 1. Organisational Development2. Leadership Development3. Early Childhood Education4. Sustainability5. Innovation in STEM Learning6. Mental Health7. Resilience and Personal Development8. Teaching and Learning

The Learning Hub will make fresh events available to you, with handpicked speakers and value for money professional learning experiences. Part proceeds from ALL The Learning Hub experiences will be made available to people in the community who have fallen on hard times and require some financial support. We will let all The Learning Hub registrants know who we have directed part proceeds to.

- and we’ll source it for you!

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