Year No. Offer Mode Description Cred. Pts 01 80121 S1 X EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES 1.00
Early childhood education in Australia is made up of a complex and diverse array of programs and services. Recently, economic, political and sociological changes stemming from equal opportunity and women's issues have resulted in early education, particularly the provision of day care, being an important community concern. Updated regulations to guide early childhood standards, and in turn the quality of education and care received by the children, have been established as a result of these social changes. Early childhood educators must be competent in the skills of working in child-care centres and be able to understand the nature of political and social change affecting the provision of services.
This unit provides an introduction to the many early childhood services available to children birth-8 years, with a specific focus on child care. It will provide a brief overview of the history of early education in Australia, and review the more recent developments in the child-care field. The major focus will be in the development of programs and environments for young children with an emphasis on children birth to 3 years.
On successful completion of this unit students will:
Description Weighting(%)
- Overview of early childhood services 10.00
- History of early childhood Services in Australia 10.00
- Recent developments in the field of child care (political 20.00 economic, social)
- Administration of child-care centres 10.00
- Creating appropriate, responsive and aesthetic 20.00 environments in child care
- Creating developmentally appropriate and socially 30.00 responsive programs for children in child care
Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the unit and enrich their learning experience.
Recommended reference materials are materials (books, CD's audiotapes,
videotapes, URL's etc) that, if accessible to students, may improve
the students' knowledge and understanding of the material in the unit.
Use of these materials could, indirectly, improve the students'
chances of gaining a higher grade in the unit.
Students are not expected to purchase these materials and are not
required to read them.
Reference materials in the Library: It is expected that the USQ
Library will hold a copy of most reference materials listed in Unit
Specifications for access by on-campus students and external students
studying in Australia.
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Dockett, S., Farmer, S. & Death , E. (1996).
Programming and planning in early childhood settings. (2nd ed.).
Sydney: Harcourt Brace.
Beaty, J. (1998). Observing development of the young child. (4th
ed.). NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Broinowski, I. (1994). Managing child care centres. Abbotsford,
Victoria: TAFE Publications.
Dahlberg, G., Moss, P. & Pence, A. (1999). Beyond quality in early
childhood education and care: Postmodern perspectives. Falmer.
Decker, C.A. & Decker, J.R. (1997). Planning and administrating early
childhood programs. (6th ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
Eliason, C.F. & Jenkins, L.T. (1999). A practical guide to early
childhood curriculum. (6th ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
Faragher, J. & MacNaughton, G. (1998). Working with young children.
(2nd ed.). TAFE Publications.
Fleet, A. & Clyde, M. (1993). What's in a day: Working in early
childhood. Social Science Press.
Gonzales-Mena, J. & Eyer, D. (1997). Infants, toddlers and
caregivers. (4th ed.). Mayfield.
Greenman, J. (1988). Caring spaces, learning spaces. Redmond, W.A.:
Exchange Press.
Greenman, J. & Stonehouse, A. (1997). Prime times: A handbook for
excellence in infant and toddler programs. Longman.
Hayden, J. (1996). Management of early childhood services: An
Australian perspective. Social Science Press.
Hendrick, J. (1998). Total learning: Developmental curriculum for the
young child. (5th ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
Hendrick, J. (1996). The whole child: Developmental education for the
early years. (6th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Hildebrand, V. (1997). Management of child development centres. (4th
ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
Hildebrand, V. (1994). Guiding young children. (5th ed.).
Merrill/MacMillan.
Hughes, F.P. (1995). Children, play and development. (2nd ed.).
Allyn & Bacon.
Hutchins, T. (1995). Babies need more than minding. Canberra:
Australian Early Childhood Association.
Melhuish, E. & Moss, P. (1991). Day care for young children:
International perspectives. Routledge.
Mellor, E.J. (1990). Stepping stones: The development of early
childhood in Australia. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers.
Sebastian-Nickell, P. & Milne, R. (1992). Care and education of young
children. Longman Cheshire.
Stonehouse, A. (1988). Trusting toddlers. AECA.
Stonehouse, A. (1994). Not just nice ladies: A book of readings on
early childhood care and education. Pademelon Press.
Taylor, B.J. (1997). Early childhood program management: People and
procedures. (3rd ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
Turner, P.H. & Hamner, T.J. (1994). Child development and early
education: Infancy through preschool. Allyn & Bacon.
Wortham, S.C. (1998). Early childhood curriculum: Developmental bases
for learning and teaching. (2nd ed.). Merrill/MacMillan.
ACTIVITY HOURS Directed Study 90 Private Study 70
No *F/S Marks Due Description Wtg(%) LBL WWW 1 S 50.00 WK 7 FACTORS INFLUENCE.THE EST.OF E.C.SERVICE 50.00 Y N 2 S 50.00 WK 16 PROGRAMS 50.00 Y N
1 When there is more than one marker for a single item of
assessment, the distribution patterns and means for the different
markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
2 Marking criteria are provided in unit material as mark
sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
3 Summative assessment items will be given a numerical score.
4 Unit Grades will be calculated by aggregating the weighted result
or numerical score for each summative assessment item.
5 All assessment items must be submitted and passed.
6 If assignments are submitted after the due date without an
approved extension of time, University penalties will apply.