Introduction to Early Childhood Education †Assessment Essay

Identify THREE quality indicators relevant to early childhood education and discuss why they are important for children, parents, and/or society. 300 words. The first quality indicator relevant to early childhood education would be ‘people’. Letting your child learn in an environment where the teachers and assistants are expert, well-trained and the majority of them hold qualifications in the area. They should be able to fully understand your child’s needs, communicate well with them ensuring they make your child feel safe and comfortable being around them. They should also be trusted and respected by staff, parents and children. The ‘place or environment’ would be the second indicator. The learning environment should make all children feel welcome regardless of the cultural, ethnic or language background. They should be able to provide a variety of, materials, equipment and play activity arranged to encourage children to learn. A stimulating outdoor environment that challenges and motivates children to explore, run and play is also important. An environment where they feel safe, and where parents can see their child, and feel comfortable knowing they are there. They should be able to feel secure in the environment they are in and to know their children can only benefit from being there. ‘Programme’ the third indicator. A quality learning programme should provide lots of learning opportunities in a wide range of different areas (reading, water play, sand play, dress-up, science, social play). A variety of activities either working in small groups or individual interactions with teachers. Parents should be able to BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education – Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper to understand themselves about what their child is learning, having good communication with the centre employees, knowing what is going on and understanding their ways etc. an eye out being a parent and understanding the centres way. Teachers should always build trusting relationships with parents while always respecting and supporting different families cultures and languages. Reference List Identify TWO early childhood services in your community. Briefly explain their history and then compare and contrast their philosophies, educational goals and the strategies employed to achieve these goals. 450 words. Montessori is a philosophy and method of education pioneered by the Italian educationalist Dr Maria Montessori (The first Montessori school opened in 1909, the first Waldorf school in 1919 and the first Playcentre in the 1930s) Montessori ‘casa dei bambini’ or ‘children’s house’ was first opened in San Lorenzo, Rome, Italy. Dr Maria Montessori recognised that the first six years of a child’s life are the most important. Dr Montessori, trialled many materials and activities, but kept only those to which the children were spontaneously and repeatedly drawn. Playcentre began in 1941 primarily as a support service to women left raising children alone due to partners being away with the Second World War. Lack of transport and low family incomes were the reality for many women. Playcentre’s original aims were â€Å"to provide leisure for mothers and opportunities for the social development of the pre-school child† (Stover, 1998, p. 3). Playcentre is a stimulating environment, they provide a diverse and rich range of experiences, unlimited free play across all 16 areas of play, and a child initiated curriculum. Montessori has a certain structure and is based on their own philosophy unlike playcentre. Playcentre is a parent run co-operative it relies heavily on parental input, participation and support. Montessori aim is to provide an environment with structure and activities that meet the needs of the children and by giving them freedom to move and act within it, it was said that Dr Montessori had revealed the â€Å"true nature† of the child. Their philosophy is aimed for Children to be encouraged to be firmly grounded in reality before being exposed to fantasy. Montessori classrooms are very BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education – Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper quiet, as children are deeply absorbed in their work. They input this by managing the classroom materials into six areas (Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial Material, Art, Mathemartics, language, cultural subjects, and also physical is brought into their daily routine). Playcentre however is marked by a stimulating environment, providing a diverse and rich range of experiences, un limited free play across all 16 areas of play, and a child initiated curriculum. Their views and goals are to promote children’s learning through play, Family involvement ( based on the importance of parents as educators of their own children) They like to View children as people who are strong and capable and can make their own choices about how and where to play (childinitiated play). Playcentre teachers are trained parents who take quite a hands on approach and implement learning, using a lot of open ended questions to extend children’s thinking. Montessori and playcentre have different methods. Both focus on the wellbeing of children, and help promote them to learn and grow through many different approaches. The key difference between Playschool and Montessori is that at playschool the whole family joins, rather than it just being a provider of education for the child. Reference List (Pre-schoolers: Preschool Education: Types of Early Childhood Care KYLIE VALENTINE 2010) (Stover, 1998, p. 3). May, H. (2002, Winter). Early childhood care and education in Aotearoa – New Zealand: An overview of history, policy and curriculum. McGill Journal of Education BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education – Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper