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Early Childhood Education and Care News
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August 24, 2021
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Welcome, this week some good news from the Federal Government regarding financial support. A reminder about the importance of barefoot experiences for children in early childhood services and the power of encouragement.
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A financial life-line for early education
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The Federal Government has announced additional support for early education providers impacted by extended lockdowns.
Effective immediately early education services in Commonwealth-declared hotspots will be eligible for fortnightly payments equivalent to 25 per cent of their pre-lockdown revenue and outside school hours services will be eligible for payments of 40 per cent.
The support will apply to services seven days after the hotspot is declared, where states have directed families to keep children at home. In services where children allowed to attend the financial support will take effect four weeks after the hotspot is declared.
The measure is in addition to the existing Commonwealth supports, including gap fee waivers which allow the Child Care Subsidy to continue even when children are not attending.
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) President, Mr Paul Mondo, said the new support will make the difference between staying afloat or closing for many service providers in NSW as well as Victoria, bearing the brunt of the latest COVID-19 lockdowns.
"This targeted support means that those early learning services, struggling the most from lockdowns can keep the lights on and still be there for families on the other side of this terrible pandemic," Mr Mondo said.
"We're extremely grateful for this rapid response to what is another emerging crisis for our sector."
Mr Mondo said the impact of the new measure at the service will become clearer once it has been implemented.
"Coupled with the government's recent allowance for service providers in declared hotspots to waive the gap fee to families during this period, we hope this new policy provides the assistance our sector so desperately needs," he said.
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The powerful language of encouragement
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Words matter. When educators speak words of encouragement to young children it has the power to boost their confidence, thinking skills and self-worth. The language of encouragement puts the focus primarily on a child's effort or improvement rather than outcomes, and promotes internal satisfaction as opposed to external approval.
Praise and encouragement are often seen as side-by-side concepts, but encouragement is a specific variety of praise.
Encouragement is non-judgemental and encouraging statements point out specific facts but do not evaluate them.
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Barefoot learning: Benefits too great to walk past
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A recent study has underscored the benefits of going barefoot, recommending that young children should go shoeless as often as possible.
These findings add to a growing body of evidence on the physical and developmental benefits of barefoot learning, encouraging educators to embrace joyful, shoe-free learning moments as part of their daily practice.
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