Once considered “just care,” early learning is under growing pressure to deliver quality education for children under five. The need is clear: 90% of brain development happens before age five, and children who attend high-quality early learning are 40% more likely to be developmentally on track...
NAPLAN is just one test, writes Sally Larsen, Senior Lecturer in Education Rawpixel/ Getty Images The latest round of NAPLAN results is out, along with a string of news reports about “students falling behind” and “failing”, and experts sounding the “alarm” about school progress. In March, all...
Marlena Katene, a recent Year 12 student living with cerebral palsy, believes that every young person deserves more than just a plan — they deserve a dream. In this powerful first-person piece, she shares how a future shaped by inclusion, support and belief can change...
From dinosaurs to chocolate science, rocket launches to virtual spacewalks, discover the best family science events near you this August. Australia’s biggest science festival is splashing into real schools, school-at-home, and virtual classrooms. In-person events, virtual tours, webcasts, talks, DIY experiments, quizzes, citizen science and competitions....
Is this enough? Asks Erin Harper Childcare centres will lose their eligibility for fee subsidies if they don’t meet safety standards, according to a new bill introduced to parliament this week. Maskot/Getty Images As Education Minister Jason Clare told parliament: it will give us the power to cut...
Supervision gaps can lead to child abuse – what can be done? writes Marg Rogers Suwatchai Pluemruetai/Shutterstock The horrific allegations of child abuse by an early childhood educator in Victoria came to light at a time when the early learning sector was already under fire for previous...
Is this a good idea? Professor Paul Kidson looks at the new powers and what it means for students and staff. When does a school’s responsibility for student behaviour end? Is it at 3pm when the bell goes? Or does a school still have to respond...
How can we support them better? ask researchers Lucy Lu and Jennifer Hammond About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect. This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop...
Lily Trew looks at how you can help your child give up on the pursuit of perfection. Setting goals and trying their best can help young people find success and happiness, but striving for unrealistic goals and unattainable standards, and being self-critical when they don’t meet...
How can school playgrounds be set up to stop it? Brendon Hyndman has some ideas. Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows school playgrounds...
