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Early Childhood is the first level of lifelong education, accepted as ranging from birth to 8 years of age. It covers the period before school, preschool and the first years of schooling, sometimes called Infants schooling in the Australian system. It includes child development, parental assisted learning, preschool education in either Child care Centres or Preschools and extends into the first formal years of education.
There are multiple pages that can be accessed using either the page number boxes above or the other links.
This page looks at national bodies, publications, other general information and also has a link to conference information.
The First Page looks at Early Childhood development support and education across all states & territories. A link is also provided for Australian Government information.
The Second Page looks at Australian Government bodies, agendas, support programs and more, Indigenous Early Childhood programs and education, Child Care Providers and programs in other countries.
Other pages linked to this area include Early Childhood Resources.
Other Information
Conferences
For all Conference Information, visit this page on our site.
General Information
- ARACY
Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. ‘ARACY encourages collaboration between researchers, policy makers and practitioners from a broad range of disciplines. ARACY’s founders believed that by working together we are more likely to uncover solutions to the problems affecting children and young people than by working in isolation.’ - Bub Hub
‘Invaluable when trying to find products, services and things to do with our kids. When we started the research for this site, we were amazed at the fantastic services and stores available to Aussie parents if they only knew where to look. The site is written by parents for parents.’ -
Center on the Developing Child [Harvard University]
‘We view healthy child development as the foundation of economic prosperity, strong communities, and a just society, and our mission is to advance that vision by using science to enhance child well-being through innovations in policy and practice’.
Highly Recommended ! - Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood
University of Melbourne. ‘The Centre has developed a strong research culture and international reputation for its work in equity and change research, professional development and teaching’. Research information, resources, news, newsletter, more. - Childcare Resource and Research Unit
‘The Childcare Resource and Research Unit focuses on research and policy resources in the context of a high quality system of early childhood education and child care in Canada.’ Multiple resources. - Child Forum
‘ChildForum is NZ’s leading early childcare and education organisation bringing you fresh thinking, information, analysis, research and resources, as well as networking opportunities and professional support’. - Cinderella’s Babysitting and Domestic Help Services
While not specifically early learning, this could prove of help for those with young children. - Developing and Sustaining Pedagogical Leadership
‘The seven topics located on this website aim to build leadership capacity for the early years’ sector and are offered at the professional learning level. The topics provided are intended to strengthen your thinking in relation to working across the early years with a focus on working in a transdisciplinary way’. - Development Checklist
‘Most parents wonder at times if their child is growing and developing like other children the same age. All children develop at different rates. Here are some guidelines for you to see how your child is developing.’ Developed by an educational unit in the US, it provides a starting point with general guidelines up to 5. - Early Childhood Connections
Information, especially links for professionals and parents. The is the Links Directory. - Early Childhood Education
Related terms, developmental domains, benefits of early childhood education, references, other links. From Wikipedia. - Early Childhood Education in Australia
All starting ages for early childhood education in AQustralia. Done by Western Australia. - Early Childhood Educators
An ESA group. ‘The purpose of this Group is to provide resources and an interactive place for people in early childhood education to talk and learn.’ - Early Childhood Facilities Design
‘Resource list of links, books and journal articles on preschool learning environments, including design guidelines, quality indicators, and safety requirements.’ From the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. US based and oriented but still worth viewing. - Early Childhood Research & Practice
‘A peer-reviewed electronic journal … . Topics on development, care, and education of children from birth to approximately age 8.’ Abstracts, full text articles. - Early Childhood Today
From Scholastic. Research, articles, products, … . Seven major areas covered. - Early Years Learning
Framework
‘This presentation of the EYLF is designed for you to view online. It offers valuable introductory information for all early childhood educators’. If not already registered you can do so usig the link at the top, right. The Framework is now on YouTube. Explore the presentation on Belonging, Being, Becoming - the National vision for children’s learning. Available in two parts. - Early Years Videos
Videos to watch online or, if you register [Free], download for later viewing. Many topics from research to resources. - Encyclopaedia on Early Childhood Development
‘This Encyclopaedia, published on the Internet, is available free of charge. It covers 41 topics related to the psychosocial development of the child, from conception to the age of five, and presents the most up-to-date scientific knowledge’.
Entry Age
Entry age for students starting school has long been an issue of concern, especially for those who just miss cut-off dates which vary across the state and territories. The following provide information regarding this. They include studies, reports, radio selections and more.
- Growing Up in Australia : The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
The main report from which much of the data for the other sites comes. Most relevant here would probably be the 2009-2010 Annual Report. You can download a Copy of the Annual Report here. - School Starting Age
ABC Radio broadcast from late 2009 with Dr Ben Edwards. You can Download the Audio Version here. He presents some interesting findings. - School Starting Age - Latest Research On
Australian Children
A discussion from a parenting site, compiled in January 2010. There is both information and links to a range of further information, some of which is also listed here. - Study Says Parents Delay School Entry Age
The ABC’s AM Program. Read the transcript on this site, or you can Listen to the Excerpt here or download an MP3 version here. This was on 7 June 2011.
- Good Beginnings
‘Good Beginnings provides Free early childhood and practical parenting programs for children and families across Australia, based at our Early Years Centres or visits to your home’. - Kids Count
Part of the Every Child is Important campaign. Developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation. Resources and information. - Let’s Make Australia a Reading Nation
‘A not-for-profit early childhood literacy awareness inititaive by the Australian Library and Information Association with a generous show of support from The Wiggles. Links to external sites are provided for educational purposes’. - Let’s Read
‘An exciting initiative to promote reading with young children from birth to 5 years. There are a range of components to Let’s Read. These work together to support and empower parents/carers to read with their young children’. - Lifestart Early Childhood Intervention
‘Lifestart - Helping special kids. An early childhood intervention program for children with Down Syndrome, Autism, delays in development, or at risk of delay. Based in Sydney, Lifestart is a parent co-operative providing a family-centred approach to the needs of children with disabilities and their families’. - NIEER
National Institute for Early Education Research. ‘Supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, nonpartisan information based on research.’ US. News, events, media, research, publications, facts & figures and more. - QikKids
‘Information on our Australian Childcare and Outside School Hours Care Management software and the range of support services we provide.’ - Symbolic Art Notation™
‘An early childhood learning program, which teaches the basics of language, including grammar, without the need to speak, spell or write.’ An online course. - State Child Care Peak Bodies
A listing of links from the Community Child Care Association. Also has National bodies. - UNESCO - Early Childhood
‘Early childhood education has vast potential for human development and is vital to achieving Education for all. As learning begins at birth and continues throughout life, UNESCO’s goal is to assist countries in expanding access to early childhood education, improving its quality and ensuring equity at this vital stage.’ - Zero To Three
‘A national, nonprofit organisation that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers’. US, but much material is still of value.
National Bodies
- Australian Childcare Alliance
At present, only contact details are provided, with a new website being developed. - Community Based Children’s Services
National Association of Community Based Children’s Services. Peak representative body for all Australian community owned children’s services including Long Day Care and Out of School Hours Care services. - CCSA - Community Connections Solutions Australia
‘A not-for-profit, non-government, membership-based organisation that supports the management of high-quality early childhood services and other community organisations’. - Early Childhood Australia
‘Works with Government, early childhood professionals, parents, other carers of young children and various lobby groups to secure the best range of options and outcomes for children as they grow and develop’. Their Code of Ethics is well worth reading. - NIFTeY
‘NIFTeY is the National Investment for the Early Years, which emerged out of the National Initiative for the Early Years that arose as an outcome of a meeting of academics, practitioners and government officials held in Canberra.’ State information, newsletter, conferences, other information. - OMEP Australia
Organisation Mondiale pour l'Education Prescolaire - World Organisation for Preschool Education. ‘Our broad membership mirrors the wide interest groups who contribute to early childhood, including medicine, social work, psychology, nursing, law, architecture and education as well as bureaucrats and policy makers at all levels of government and in the community.’ - Playgroup - National
What is a playgroup ?, news, contacts, general information, links to state and territory groups, searching for a playgroup and other related links. - Raising Children Network
Everything from newborns to school age and a section for grown-ups. Tools and activities, forums, services, support and a great deal more. Links to playgroups and support services.
Publications
Articles, journals, reports, research, books, special software, more.
- 2006 Australian Government Census of Child Care
Services
‘Australian Government Census of Child Care Services has been conducted regularly since 1986. The information provided in the Census is the most comprehensive data available on Australian Government approved and funded child care.’ PDF documents. - Australian
Journal of Early Childhood
‘Australasia’s foremost scholarly journal and the world’s longest-running major journal within the early childhood field.’ - Background Note - Preschool Education in Australia
Australian Parliament. Research, two major reviews, present provision, Indigenous areas and other statistics. May 2008. - Beginning Reading
‘The Beginning Reading What Works Clearinghouse review focuses on reading interventions for students in grades K-3 [or ages 5-8] that are intended to increase skills’ in Reading. Covers commercial products and techniques. PDF downloads for areas covered. - Childhood Education and Care, Australia, June 2008
‘Presents estimates of child care arrangements and early childhood education and learning, compiled from the June 2008 Childhood Education and Care Survey. The child care estimates include type of care usually attended by children under 13 years of age at the time of interview, the hours of care, cost, and demand for care, together with information about the employment and income characteristics of the parents.’ Australian Bureau of Statistics. - Early Childhood Education
‘The What Works Clearinghouse review focuses first on early childhood education interventions [curricula and practices] designed for use in centre-based settings with 3- to 5-year-old children who are not yet in kindergarten or children who are in preschool, with a primary focus on cognitive and language competencies … ’ Covers commercial products and techniques. PDF downloads for areas covered. - Earlychildhood NEWS
‘Welcome to Earlychildhood NEWS - your online resource for Teachers and Parents of children, from infants to age 8 years’. - Early Years - Best Start
While Canadian [Ontario], the facts apply irrespective of where done. Fascinating look at the early years. - Early Years Literacy
and Numeracy Project
Two volumes and a Guide. PDF format. - Education and Training Workforce: : Early Childhood Development
‘The second phase of the Education and Training Workforce study is examining the workforce of the Early Childhood Development [ECD]sector. A report will be submitted to the Australian Government in October 2011’. Access a range of documents including Draft Report and Submissions. - Education Research : Moving Evidence on What Works into Practice
‘ The Presenters reflected on lessons learned from efforts to conduct scientific reviews of research, and to disseminate the information to those in the field who can use it, to help raise student performance and improve policy and practice.’ This 2008 conference provides a Transcript and a large audio file in MP3 [2 hours+]. - Effective Provision of Pre-School Education [EPPE] Project
‘EPPE is the first major study in the United Kingdom to focus specifically on the effectiveness of early years education. The EPPE project is a large scale, longitudinal study of the progress and development of 3 000 children in various types of pre-school education.’ Now into the fourth time period with EPPSE. - Guide to the National Quality Standard
‘The National Quality Standard provides an outline on Quality Areas and how each underlying Standard contributes to quality outcomes for children’. - Harvard Family Research Project
Information and publications for Early Childhood [select from listing]. Most are Free to access. - IEA Preprimary Project
Worldwide Child Care and Education. ‘A groundbreaking cross-national study of early childhood care and education. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify how characteristics of preprimary settings, such as teaching practices and structural features, are related to children’s language and cognitive development at age 7.’ Some information [including findings] available in PDF format - Investing in Children : What Do We Know ?
What Should We Do ?. A UK report by Sheldon Danziger and Jane Waldfogel. - Kindergarten Is the Model for Lifelong Learning
Mitchel Resnick, Lifelong Kindergarten group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab. An article that looks at the role of Kindergarten and how it should influence lifelong learning. Links to resources and related articles. - Linking Schools and Early Years Services
‘Australian report highlights the importance of the early years in relation to children’s development.’ - Our Future On The Line
‘Keeping the early childhood education and care reforms on track. A State of the Sector report by Early Childhood Australia’. - Preschool Education in Australia
‘Australian backgrounder into research on early childhood intervention and education.’ -
Research Connections
Child Care and Early Education. ‘Offering a comprehensive, up-to-date, and easy-to-use collection of more than 20 000 resources from the many disciplines related to child care and early education’. Most entries appear to provide data about, rather than the full text document. - Researching Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years
‘Builds on EPPE data to explore further the pedagogy in settings and identify the most effective pedagogical strategies that are applied in the Foundation Stage to support he development of young children’s skills, knowledge and attitudes and ensure they make a good start at school.’ UK Based. - Staying Healthy in Child Care
Preventing Infectious Diseases in Child Care. National Health and Medical Research Council. - The Long Term Economic Benefits …
Of High Quality Early Childhood Intervention Programs - Minibibliography. ‘Provides a selection of articles, reports, and book chapters that review some of the major findings on this topic. Some of the included studies focus on services for young children with disabilities, although most address early intervention for children who are at risk for adverse developmental outcomes due to poverty and other environmental factors.’ - Themes : Early Years
‘The collection of research digests available here covers a variety of issues to do with Early Years education’. UK Based. - Too Young to Leave the Nest ? The Effects of School Starting Age
‘A 59-page discussion paper examining the role of school starting age on long-term outcomes.’ - Using ICT to Develop Literacy
‘Discusses five areas in which ICT can be utilized in literacy education [enhancing learning; raising access to literacy education; training of teachers; localizing content; and creating a literacy-conducive environment] and provides examples of projects in which ICT has been utilized effectively to improve literacy education.’ UNESCO.