Training for Existing Workers

This week SWSI met with Tharawal to discuss a training program for existing childcare workers in the Child Care Centre at Tharawal. This has been developed from a partnership through CTP funding and now will be extended to existing workers. The program will include statement of attendance for a series of workshops that have been requested and was discussed that this will suit the workers' needs rather than formal qualifications. The program will run for a series of 10 weeks and will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction to Child Development: This is an introduction to concepts and to develop an understanding of the ways to appropriately meet the needs of the children in care.
2. Programming and Planning: This will run for several weeks and will cover topics such as observing and recording, planning experiences to meet the developmental needs of the children, including using equipment and materials, positive interactions with the children and working as a team to create a positive and exciting environment.
3. Group time; this will enable participants to develop skills in management strategies, building a range of resources, developing ideas to make language and music activities interesting and fun.
4. Guiding children's Behaviour: Building on the knowledge of child development develop a range of strategies that are practical, positive and appropriate. This will include the use of the environment.
5. Team Work; This will focus on ways to work effectively as a team including role definitions and time management.
The training will be run for 2 hours per week over a period of 10 weeks and will help the staff work through the accreditation process available for child care centres.