EDU3008: Introduction to Educational Leadership and Management. Assessment 2: Case Study and Presentation Part 2: Presentation Erin Davidson:

Serendipity Early Learning Centre.  Part 2: Response to scenario. Consider the scenario. Based on your review of the policy develop your suggestions for change at the Serendipity Early Learning Centre.

Serendipity Early Learning Centre. Outdoor environment policy  Positives of the policy: -Clear and easy to read. -All educators know what is expected of them. -Easily able to find key points that are needed. -Appropriate simple language -Includes links to other centre policies

Serendipity Early Learning Centre. Outdoor environment policy  Things we need to work on: -Revising our policy, and changing it to reflect the centre philosophy -Changing the following information: -Fencing requirements -Height of play equipment -Adding supporting document for approved plants -Who is responsible for programming

Serendipity Early Learning Centre. Outdoor environment policy. Continued. -The design of our outdoor space to support the philosophy -Revising other policy to support the outdoor environment policy, such as: -Sun safe -Cleaning and maintenance -Sustainability -Programming

Revising our policy  We need to change this policy to support the Serendipity centre philosophy more (Gibbs 2008), as the role of a policy is to implement the centres goals, values and beliefs for the centre.  The policy needs to make allowances for: -Children having more input into the program -Families being more involved -Include stainability and natural items The policy also needs to include more information to avoid educators wasting time discussing issues that are already set out in writing, and no errors in what is expected of them (Gibbs 2008).

Changing information  Currently our policy says that fences and barriers should designed and of a height that preschool children can’t go through/over/under them. -We need to change this information to children preschool age or under can’t go through/over/under them, as stated in the Education and Care Services National Regulations (2014). -We than need to physically check the fencing and barriers around the centre to make sure that they are all of approved heights and conditions.

Changing information  We need to change the approved height of play equipment, or add additional resource -We need to include correct height of play equipment (no greater than 50 cm), before the addition of impact-absorbing surfaces and free fall zones are required (NSW Department of Education and Training Asset Management Directorate 2006). -We need to add reference to supporting documents like “playing Safe: Guidelines for the installation and maintenance of playground equipment in NSW government schools” (NSW Department of Education and Training Asset Management Directorate 2006), which is where we locate our approved standards for playground equipment and requirements of design.

Changing information  Adding supporting documentation for approved plants. -We need to add supporting documents like the Kidsafe NSW (2005) “Plants for play spaces”, which lists all of the approved and safe plants that should be used around children. -The centre could also participate in the Kidsafe (2012) program “Grow me Safely”, which has a list of plants to avoid as well as sensory and vegetable garden ideas, which link into our centres philosophy, this will allow for the children to participate in the “sustainability” of the service -We can also add tips from the “Grow mw safely” in our newsletter to give ideas to our families too, to encourage them to become more sustainable.

Changing information  Who is responsible for programming for the outdoor environment: Currently the policy is stating that it is my responsibility as educational leader to program for the outdoor environment but the policy is saying that the children are able to make decisions about their learning and have input into their learning. There needs to also be room in the program for parent input, based on anything parents feel need working on, and to extend upon any experiences that children may have had at home.

Re-designing our outdoor environment  We need to re-design our outdoor environment to reflect our philosophy and policy. Step we can take to do this include: -Looking at the existing layout and design and equipment -Go to other centres in the area with similar philosophies and see what they have done to their outdoor environments -Plan our new area -Fundraise or ask for donations to help meet the costs, since we are a community based centre -Hold working bees and encourage the families to help (big/small) with implementing the design.

Revise other policies  We need to revise the other policies that link to the outdoor policy We need to make sure that the other policies reflect the new outdoor policy, as well as the changed centre philosophy. We also need to make sure that the following policies include supporting information for the outdoor environment like: -Cleaning and Maintenance policy: -Requirements for cleaning and disinfecting the sandpit, and packing it away when not in use -Making sure any ‘natural’ resources are hazardous free, like splinters in logs, and spiders in tyres -How often and how the outdoor environment resources are to be cleaned and stored

Revise other policies continued -Environment sustainability policy: -How this will be implemented in the outdoor environment -Who is responsible for implementing this -Programming -Allowing the children and their families to have input into both the indoor and outdoor programs -Allowing all educators to have input into our programs

Reference:  Gibbs. L. (2008). Policy development in early childhood settings: from idea to evaluation. Pademelon Press. Castle Hill, NSW  Kidsafe NSW. (2012). Grow me Safely. Source:  Kidsafe NSW Playground Advisory Unit. (2005). Plants for play spaces. Source: Kidsafe NSW. Westmead, NSW.  NSW department of Education and Training Asset Management Directorate. (2006). Playing Safe: Guidelines for the installation and maintenance of playground equipment in NSW government schools. Education Facilities Research Group. Sydney, NSW.  NSW Legislations. (2014). Educational and Care Services National Regulations. Source: +0+N