Surviving the staffing crisis Written by Mim Brown, Phoenix Support for Educators Agency, love, self-care and a challenge to qualification mandates. We talk to six sector leaders about staff recruitment and retention and their res... COVID-19 Childcare sector challenges Educational Leader Educator wellbeing Recruitment in ECEC Staff retention techniques Staffing crisis Workforce shortage solutions early childhood educators educators 8 May 2023 Blog
The Loose Parts Challenge Looking to boost curiosity and creativity in your classroom? Or maybe its collaborative problem solving, sustainability or resilience you’re prioritising for the children? Whatever your focus, it may ... Child-led learning Children's development Heuristic play Loose parts play Play Schematic play Sensory exploration Sustainability in education early childhood early childhood education educator resources loose parts 6 Dec 2022 Blog
A decade of dedication We turned 10 and we nearly missed it! Phoenix Support for Educators officially opened for business in June 2012 with our first workshops rolling out at community spaces across South East QLD a whole d... Coaching & mentoring Educator advocacy National training services Phoenix Support for Educators Professional development Sandi Phoenix Team growth 14 Sep 2022 Blog
Educator Voice: Advocating Indigenous Culture My name is Violet Hildebrandt nee McGinness, and I am a proud Kungarakan, Gurindji and Ngen’giwumirri Woman, but I was born and raised in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Arrernte Country. As an Indigenous... Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture Aboriginal perspectives Cultural inclusion Educator advocacy Educator resources Indigenous education Indigenous storytelling Respectful teaching practices Teaching Indigenous history early childhood education 9 Aug 2022
The word ‘play’ must be seen to be equal among agendas "I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marc and his work for many years now. Every time I hear him speak about the theory behind playwork, I get so pumped about this movement. When I read this article, the... Emotional resilience in children Evolutionary biology of play Mindfulness practices Personal growth methods Play Play advocacy Play therapy Play-based learning Playful pedagogy Playwork Positive self-talk Self-awareness techniques Stress management for educators Unhelpful thinking styles 5 Jun 2022 Blog
Being professional in Early Childhood Education Being a member of a few Early Childhood Educator Facebook groups, I often see there is a lot of disagreement among these groups (and throughout the sector) about what being a professional in Early Chi... Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Educator advocacy Educator ethics National Quality Framework Play-based learning Professional development Reflective practice in teaching Understanding children's behaviour 30 Oct 2021 Blog
The day we met Jet Pack Man; A story about fun cup filling Transitions were not Jaxon’s favourite thing. In fact, he would resist every one of them. Time to go inside? Nope. Time to wash our hands? I don’t think so. Group time? Not happening. Jaxon taught his... Child engagement Flow in early years Fun Cup Imaginative play Play Positive behaviour support Reflective teaching practices The Phoenix Cups Framework 29 Oct 2021 Blog
Schematic Play Written by Louise Porter, PhD, Child psychologist Compiled by Phoenix Support for Educators Pty Ltd © 2021 TYPES OF PLAY There are many types of play: 1 ※ Schematic play: in which children have a stro... Child development through play Children's development Play Play-based learning Rotation schema Schematic play Sensory Play Trajectory schema childcare educator infants parenting plaget schema schema in young children teacher toddlers 29 Oct 2021 Blog
Behaviour Guidance from my point of view The Short Story My approach to guiding children’s behaviour comes from understanding behaviour as communication to meet human needs. I believe that once educators have a deeper understanding of this, ... Behaviour guidance Behaviour management Children's development Developmental red flags Educator ethics Inclusion support in education Play-based learning Positive behaviour support Relationship-based education Sensory processing differences Strength-based practice 29 Oct 2021 Blog
Angry about 'under the roof ratio'? You're doing it wrong If you cringe when the words 'Under the roof' are uttered, then chances are you’re doing it wrong. The Australian National Quality Framework (NQF) brought with it ratios intended to improve outcomes f... Child safety Child supervision guidelines Compliance ECEC regulations NQF National Quality Framework Quality education practices Under the roof Under the roof ratio Under the roof ratios 31 Aug 2021
Connection Plan The Connection Plan - A behaviour reward chart that will actually work! Sandi Phoenix - Children's behaviour specialist Children don’t ‘misbehave’ to get our attention, manipulate us, or annoy us. The... Behaviour charts Behaviour guidance Behaviour management Children's emotional wellbeing Connecting with children Connection Plan Connection Seeking Positive reinforcement alternatives Resources The Phoenix Cups Framework 2 Aug 2021 Resources
Need a behaviour chart? The power of positive interactions in supporting children's behavioural learning By Sandi Phoenix B.Psych.Sc Sticker charts, rewards, and positive reinforcement systems are commonly used to ‘shape’ ch... Behaviour charts Behaviour guidance Behaviour management Interaction ratio Positive interactions Positive reinforcement systems 1 Aug 2021 Blog