Who is the Foundations for Success website provided by?
The Foundations for Success website is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of Education. The department worked closely with a multimedia production company and inspirational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood educators, pedagogical leaders and community members to produce this professional development resource.
Who is the Foundations for Success website aimed at?
This website has been developed as part of a multimedia tool designed specifically for early childhood educators and administrators. Anyone with an interest in early childhood and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education is welcome to access the website, which includes the Foundations for Success guidelines, and links to external, early childhood education and care resources.
How will the Foundations for Success website benefit me as an early childhood educator?
The Foundations for Success website provides a tailored suite of resources to assist early childhood educators to plan and implement a quality early learning program that recognises and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, languages, cultures and strengths, and engages children and families. It provides information that will explain and support the cycle of planning, linking observations of children’s learning to planning, making assessments for learning and making critical reflections.
How will the Foundations for Success website support quality early childhood education and care?
Foundations for Success is aligned with Belonging, Being and Becoming – the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) and the National Quality Framework. Used alongside the EYLF, Foundations for Success provides educators with additional guidance to implement a holistic program that extends and enriches learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their kindergarten year and provides support around some of the critical elements under the National Quality Standard.
Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice
Focuses on ensuring that the educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging, and enhances children’s learning and development. In school age care services, the program nurtures the development of life skills and complements children’s experiences, opportunities and relationships at school, at home and in the community.
Quality Area 5: Relationships with children
Focuses on ensuring relationships with children are responsive and respectful and promote children’s sense of security and belonging. Relationships of this kind free children to explore the environment and engage in play and learning.
Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Focuses on collaborative relationships with families that are fundamental to achieving quality outcomes for children, and community partnerships that are based on active communication, consultation and collaboration.
There is currently no other resource—in an Indigenous context—that provides this level of comprehensive guidance and culturally and linguistically appropriate support to implement the EYLF, in an easy-to-use, digital format. It provides an excellent opportunity to improve inclusive program and practice to support the delivery of effective learning programs and successful transition to school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across Australia.
Should I be using Foundations for Success or the Early Years Learning Framework?
You can use both, because Foundations for Success complements the EYLF.
In Australia, the EYLF is fundamental for ensuring that children in all early childhood education and care settings experience quality teaching and learning. It is the essential resource for implementing the National Quality Standard.
The Foundations for Success guideline is based on evidence-based research and sound pedagogy and practice. As such, it builds on the principles, practices and outcomes outlined in the EYLF, to uphold its vision:
'...all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life.'
Used alongside the EYLF, Foundations for Success provides educators with additional guidance to implement a holistic program that extends and enriches learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their kindergarten year.
I only have a small number of Indigenous children in my program. Is Foundations for Success still applicable to me?
Yes. Used alongside the EYLF, Foundations for Success provides educators with additional guidance to implement a holistic program that extends and enriches learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their kindergarten year. It also increases cultural capabilities through embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives as part of an inclusive early childhood education program.
Where can I get copies of the Foundations for Success guideline?
A copy of the complete guideline document is available. It can also be found on the
Early Childhood Education and Care website.
Can I use Foundations for Success if I don't have any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in my program?
Yes. For educators with an interest in delivering inclusive early childhood education programs based on evidence-based research and sound pedagogy and practice, and used alongside the EYLF, Foundations for Success not only provides educators with guidance to implement a holistic program that extends and enriches learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their kindergarten year, it also increases cultural capabilities through embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the program.