“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is: Educational Leadership.
Element 7.2.2: The educational leader is supported and leads the development and implementation of the educational program and assessment and planning cycle.
Does management ensure ongoing, holistic support for the educational leader to foster the development and continual improvement of the cycle of planning and educator’s pedagogical practice?
Element 7.2.2 requires the educational leader to be supported within their role. It’s crucial that the educational leader receives ongoing support from management, to support continual improvement within their role and their capacity to lead, guide and develop the team of educators as well as work to develop families’ understanding about the educational program, cycle of planning and play-based learning.
Strategies to support the educational leader within their role:
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- Regular support/mentoring meetings with the educational leader
- Promoting the role across the Service
- Discussing and working through the education leader’s experiences and challenges and developing new strategies for implementation
- Critical reflection focusing on ensuring strategies for implementation align with the Service’s goals and philosophy
- Formally reviewing the educational leader’s performance and development to support professional growth
- Encouraging and empowering independent decision-making
- Funding; including time and professional resources
- Supporting ongoing professional development opportunities
- Encouraging collaborative leadership by involving the educational leader in key decision-making processes to build their confidence, leadership experience and foster a collaborative approach to managing the ECEC service
Ensure you keep a detailed, up to date record of:
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- mentoring and support provided to the educational leader to assist them in fulfilling their leadership role
- how the Educational Leader has mentored, guided and supported educators with their professional development plans, teacher accreditation and registration (where applicable)
- how the educational leader provides the team with ongoing guidance and support in the development and implementation of the educational program and practice
- evidence of critical reflection that occurs formally and informally that explore pedagogy, the curriculum and the outcomes of the approved learning framework.
Resources:
Support for Educational Leadership
The Role of the Educational Leader
Educational Leadership and Team Building
The Educational Leader Resource
Educational Leadership in Family Day Care
Educational Leadership in Out of School Hours Care
Within System7 go to Quality Area 7/ Modules 34-36 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 educational leadership. These include Professional Development Plan, Educational Leader Programming Agreement, Meeting Agenda & Minutes, Educational Leader Guide, Educational Leader Job Description, Educational Leader Yearly Plans, Educational Leader Routine Checklist and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 7/ 7.2.2- Educational Leadership
National Regulations – 118, 148, 173 (2) (d)
System7 Module – QA 7/ Modules 34-36
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
