The British Association for Early Childhood Education (http://www.early-education.org.uk) is a resourceful website for those who would like to learn more about educating young children. It is very enlightening and illuminating to surf and read the website.
By
exploring the website, it can lead us to many interesting and informative
outside links that relate to early education. One such link that I explored is Our Special Interest
Groups. The aim of the link is to
provide key support to practitioners with specific areas of interest, expertise
or responsibility, providing forums for the exchange of ideas and best practice
as well as excellent networking opportunities. For example, one such group is The Early Education Baby
Room Special Interest Group. It
was established to support all those working with the youngest children and is
open to all practitioners, academics, early childhood consultants or policy
makers willing to exchange ideas and encourage others working in the field.
One
new information is just released in the e-newsletter of the website that talks
about issue of change. This latest
information is urging all UK governments keep the needs and interests of the
child central to all decisions and changes, and pilot changes adequately before
implementation. Megan Pacey,
Chief Executive of Early Education commented:
“High quality early years
provision has a lasting impact on children’s futures. The universal early
education that is available to all three and four year olds across the UK and
which is being extended to disadvantaged two year olds in England, must focus
on the learning needs of children. Wherever changes to early years are
promoted, the principle purpose should be the well-being, development and
learning of children, rather than the convenience or employability of
adults. All changes to practice should be piloted and evaluated with rigor
before implementation”.
I
personally believe that keeping the needs and interest of children when make
changes, particularly in funding and budgeting, is one way of ensuring equity
and excellence in early care and education. One insight gained from this news is that it is imperative
to pilot and assess with carefulness all changes to practice in early education
before execution.
It is amazing that people actually have to tell policy makers and those who influence funding and budgeting that they need to keep the interests of the children above those of the adults. This should be something that is automatic. People who do not understand child development should not be allowed to make any decisions that impact the lives of children.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that time is craved out for everyone is associated with early childhood education to come together and communicate and share their ideas and criteria. That is needed here in the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Dawn, that there needs to be a time set specifically aside to discuss early childhood education. This needs to be done in the U.S., because this is part of the problem in the states. There is no one on the same page for funding or working together for programs.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kelly