Training on the job: How do home-based co-ordinators support educators to notice, recognise, and respond?

Project Description

This project was undertaken jointly by three co-ordinators from Hamilton Childcare Services Trust and a researcher from the University of Waikato. It focused on exploring the impact of the informal training and professional development that co-ordinators provide for home-based educators in an early childhood service. It aimed to identify factors important in helping educators to recognise and support children’s learning.

Hamilton Childcare Services Trust Home-based Childcare is a teacher-led early childhood service. All home-based educators are supported by co-ordinators responsible for ensuring they are implementing Te Whariki, the early childhood curriculum (Ministry of Education, 1996) and providing individual plans and assessment for children.

Since 1996 educators have been required by legislation to complete the first module of the Family Daycare Certificate in order that services obtain a higher rate of Ministry of Education funding. Coordinators have been required since January 2005 to be registered, qualified, early childhood teachers. Educators provide a home-like (as opposed to a centre) environment and are responsible for both the children in their care and the activities of running a home, such as shopping, cooking, and gardening (Foote & Ellis, 2003). These activities provide rich learning opportunities if educators are alert to their potential and can recognise and respond appropriately to children’s learning. Co-ordinators provide ongoing training and professional development for educators to assist those with only basic training to provide quality interactions and learning outcomes for children. The work of co-ordinators is therefore central to the learning of children receiving home-based childcare, and this research provided important insights into their role.

Project Team

L–R: Sally Peters, Sue Biggar, Frances Bleakin, Tracy Hooker.

Project Outputs

2008

Publications

Peters, S., Hooker, T., Biggar, S., & Bleaken, F.  (2008) How do home-based co-ordinators support educators to notice, recognise and respond to children's learning? Early Childhood Folio, 12 . pp. 41-45. ISSN 0112-0530

Hooker,T., Peters, S., Biggar, S., & Bleaken, F.  (2008) Training on the job: How do home-based co-ordinators support educators to notice, recognise and respond? In: NZ Childcare Association 45th Annual Conference & AGM, 11-13 July, 2008, Christchurch, New Zealand.