Te Whariki

Early childhood education curriculums are becoming a national curriculum in most countries. With more governments and society thinking about education of under-fives we are seeing shifts in thinking and education to meet the changing world. We are developing children skills for the future to create a society where children feel they belong and can contribute to society. Curriculums are being influenced my social, political, cultural, historical and theoretical issues that are impacting different curriculums in the world. I am going to explore and develop my understanding about three different curriculums to recognise the different influences affecting curriculums. I am going to explore the curriculums of Te Whāriki: New Zealand, Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and Curriculum for Excellence: Scotland. This will allow me to develop an understanding of other curriculums which I have not heard about to discover other way to education that I have not been taught in teacher’s college.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum in England differs greatly in structure and content to the Te Whariki curriculum in New Zealand; this therefore makes for an interesting comparison. The EYFS was introduced in England, in 2008, by the DfE as a framework that ‘sets the standards for learning, development and care of children from birth to five’ (DfE, 2012). Alternatively, Te Whariki was founded in New Zealand, in 1996, based on the aspirations for children ‘to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society’ (Ministry of Education, 1996). Throughout this essay, the EYFS

It is organized with in four sections that specify standards of ethical behavior and responsibilities that educators must have to children, families, colleagues, community and society. Also, it a guide in which a teacher or a caregiver can fall on for support within face difficult dilemmas in Early Childhood care and education.

The ideas and concepts gives you knowledge how to provide quality care and work alongside parents, also it can give you guidance on how to set up an activity to help the child get the most out of it. The four sections are:

This essay will discuss Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky and their theories as well as critical points from their theories and explain how they relate back to each theory. It will discuss how both of these theories can be applied to work in relation to a role in the Early Childhood sector. It will include Dr. Rangimarie Pere’s studies in education and how they compare to those of Piaget and Vygotsky. This essay will also link the chosen theories back to Te Whāriki and the New Zealand early childhood curriculum.

It is agreed that educator’s philosophy, pedagogical practices and believe about topics such as gender and sexuality, socio-cultural factors and cultural diversity will influence how the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is reflected in the classroom. For example, cultural competence which is one of the eight main practices that EYLF focuses on to support children’s learning.

This research report presents an analysis of and conclusions drawn from the experiences and perspectives of two educators that work in the early childhood setting. The main objective is to identify key elements and issues in relation to the families, diversity and difference. In particular how an early childhood educator implements, different approaches to honour culture and diversity, and to advocate for social justice in an early childhood settings. As such, it allows an insight into the important role that families and their background plays in the everyday lives of the children and educators within early childhood settings. In today’s ever-changing growing society it is essential for educators to be flexible to the

Similarly Bronfenbrenner recognised the importance of primary carers to children, his ecological system proposes that children are affected by many social factors and those closest to the child have the greatest impact. In the ecological system the parents and family are represented by the micro system, they are closest to the child and have the most influence them and their learning potential. (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Therefore it is essential that the early year’s educator has a positive relationship with the parent for consistent and effective learning at home and in the setting. As well as recognising that parents have influence on their children the ecological system shows the environmental factors that have impact on the child and family; Bronfenbrenner defines the next layer of the ecological system, the mesosystem, as “the relationship between factors within the microsystem” (Kay, 2008:269) this means that the relationship the parents and educators within the child’s setting has an influence on the child; affirming just how crucial it is for practitioners to be in partnership with parents.

The Educators Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia has identified key concepts and principles which require educators to use particular understandings and practices effectively to achieve the desire outcome ‘ The Journey for Educators: Growing competence in working with Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010, Page 24) focuses on guiding educators

ensure that the program interconnects the richness of indigenous and the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework. focusing on relationship with family community and nature helps children to be connected with and to contribute to their world.

Think about your early childhood education (or your child’s early education), was it flexible to suit individual learning experiences or were children required to conform to the teacher’s methods of teaching? If you answered the latter, do you think the former would improve the quality of education? The initial years of education are crucial to learning, development and growth, during these first years children’s experiences shape their learning methods and they are able to learn rapidly, for this, early childhood educators must use teaching methods that are suitable for each child. Teachers must consider the attitude they bring to the classroom; how it affects children’s learning and the value, of the information and knowledge that

Human development is an essential aspect in early childhood education. This essay is going to discuss the theories of three human development theorists, Urie Bronfenbrenner, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory is concerned with family, cultural and social influences and all the other environmental elements. Bowlby’s Attachment theory and Stages of attachment and Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” research which breaks down attachment into three types are related to the relationship between adults and children. These theories are all associated with socio-cultural theory, which is throughout the New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te whariki (Ministry of Education, 1996).

The Early Childhood Education program at Carlow University focuses on educating children from birth to grade four in any context—school, family, or community. As a signature mark of the program, students learn how to honor diversity and form strong inclusive relationships between child and caregiver/teacher. They learn that a child’s environment needs to be rooted in trust; physically and psychologically safe. They learn that the caregiver/teacher relationship needs

“Partnerships with families and communities strengthen the ability of early childhood settings to meet the needs of young children” this ELECT principle supports the Te Whāriki model because it says that family and community supports the child’s development. Also, this ELECT principle supports Te Whāriki model because they say the early setting should respect the culture, language and value of the children family and community .pg 9 ELECT principle connects and supports to Te Whāriki model because Te Whāriki principle that is “Family and Community” says that children learning and development can happen when their families and community culture, beliefs , and traditions are respected. The principle that is not supported in Te Whāriki model

Early childhood education has not always been the top priority in the education world. Although, research has proved that it should be the top priority as the benefits of Early Childhood Education are innumerous. Extensive neuroscience research has discovered that the brain is build over time and it is built from the bottom up. Early childhood experiences directly affect the quality brain development. Establishing a sturdy foundation through a high quality early childhood education experience, will dramatically develop child's brain. As a result, they will have a brighter future. In this essay, I will propose a plan for the children of 2020 and how to ensure the best early childhood education experience. I personally believe that racially, culturally, linguistically and developmentally responsive practices parental involvement are critical to the sturdy foundation that is essential to the positive early childhood experience.