“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Acknowledgement of strengths, knowledge and skills
Element 4.2.1: Management, educators and staff work with mutual respect and collaboratively, and challenge and learn from each other, recognising each other’s strengths and skills.
How does your service acknowledge, showcase and reward educators’ skills, knowledge, quality practice and achievements as part of a continual culture of professional collaboration?
Acknowledging the strengths of educators and the team isn’t simply a nice gesture; it is a professional obligation and a key driver of quality practice. When educators feel seen and valued for their unique contributions, it fosters trust and respect. Teams move from working alongside each other to truly working with each other, strengthening collaborative, professional learning where recognised strengths become shared resources. For example, an educator who excels at family communication can mentor others, or a room leader with innovative sustainability practices can lead a professional learning session on environmentally responsible practices. When strengths are named and celebrated, they are more likely to be offered generously to the team.
Element 4.2.1 is not a box to tick, it is the heartbeat of a high-quality service. When educators know their expertise is genuinely valued, collaboration becomes energised, reflective practice deepens, and children experience the richest possible learning environment created by a confident, connected team.
As we come to the end of 2025, another busy year, that’s seen many challenges and changes within the ECEC sector, these closing weeks of the year are the perfect moment to make educators’ strengths and achievements highly visible and valued, empowering them to start the new year with a team that feels truly seen, genuinely respected, and ready to collaborate at an even higher level.
Consider combining everyday practices with some intentional end-of-year celebrations:
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- End of year awards: set specific categories to award educators for their continual professional practice e.g. Innovation in Pedagogy and Practice Award, Professional Practice Award, Child Advocacy Award, Team Player Award, Positive Partnerships, Outstanding Leadership Award etc.
- Strengths boards or “Wall of Fame”: Include photos and short statements celebrating specific examples of excellence throughout the year.
- Peer-nomination awards: Educators can create a range of categories to showcase specific skills and vote. For example, “The Inclusion Champion”, “Master of Risky Play”, “Family Engagement Guru”.
- Have a dedicated agenda item in team meetings throughout December: “Celebrating our collective and individual growth in 2025”.
- Individuals thank-you letters/cards from management and families that praise specific strengths observed.
- Video montages or yearbooks highlighting critical incidents where educators’ skills have excelled.
- Nominate educators to be entered into sector awards such as the “Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards”.
- End of year social events: Thank and reward the team for their hard work and commitment by providing fun and creative opportunities for staff to meet as a team outside of the Service to celebrate the end of the year.
- Ensure you promote awards and achievements on all available platforms: Displayed at the service, in your service newsletter, online posts via your information sharing app and social media pages.
Resources:
Guide to the NQF: Element 4.2.1: Professional collaboration
Belonging, Being and Becoming for Educators
Standard 4.2:Professionalism- Case study
We Hear You- Developing a professional learning community
Creating Positive Workplace Relations
Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards
Within System7 go to Quality Area 4/ Module 5 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with documenting professional collaboration. These include Staff Meeting Guide, templates for meeting agenda, meeting minutes and critical reflection, Professional Development Policy, Mentorship Guide and Agreement and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 4/ 4.2.1- Professional collaboration
National Regulations – 168, 169
System7 Module – QA 4/ Module 5
If you have any questions, send us a note via the Contact page here!
