Goodstart Early Learning Bathurst has been awarded the Excellent rating

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Date awarded: 27 October 2020

Valid until: 26 October 2023

Goodstart Early Learning Bathurst has been awarded the Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the highest rating a service can achieve under the National Quality Framework.

The Bathurst based service was recognised for its:

  • collaborative partnerships with professional, community or research organisations,
  • commitment to children that respects, reflects and celebrates culture and diversity, including place of origin,
  • practice and environments that enhance children’s learning and growth.

Examples of exceptional practice at the service include:

  • The service has supported the capacity of staff in their understandings of local history, context and community through a partnership with the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (BLALC) and its Chief Executive Officer. The partnership has led to:
    • Being granted permission by the local Wiradjuri people to access a site for its bush kindy program which is available for toddlers through to preschool children.
    • Co-organising annual NAIDOC community events, including children and family events.
    • A family star gazing event at the bush kindy site attended by local Aboriginal astronomers.
    • Weekly Playgroup NSW sessions being run at the service by service staff to increase community access to early learning and support services.
    • Supporting a local primary school to introduce a K-2 bush kindy program and received permission to access a local site for their program.
    • In November 2019, the Chief Executive Officer received an award in acknowledgement of being the first Local Aboriginal Land Council to work with an early childhood service to develop a bush kindy program.
  • Involvement in a local transition to school network group which has resulted in:
    • Local primary school teachers and students visiting the service for shared learning experiences.
    • Organising local primary, secondary and independent school representatives to speak to its families regarding the transition process and the social and emotional impacts of children starting school at a younger age.
    • Working with families and local schools to identify early transition to school programs and the funding and supports available. This has supported families to be more informed and targeted in their school selection and to develop relationships with school staff well before the child begins school.
    • The service working with a local kindergarten teacher and principal to provide visual resources for a transitioned child to support their settling in and class engagement.
  • Active participation in the local community through:
    • All age groups accessing literacy and borrowing programs at the Bathurst Library and participating in a town march that celebrates literacy. Staff have also presented at the library on behalf of Playgroup NSW.
    • Relationship building with residents at a local aged care facility for the past four years in response to many children not having grandparents in the local area.
    • Children being active citizens in community events, such as being awarded the grand champion prize at the Annual Bathurst Show for a pumpkin they grew at the service.
    • Entering dance troupes for ballet, tap, jazz and traditional dance at the Bathurst Eisteddfod.

As a leader in the sector, Goodstart Early Learning Bathurst develops and inspires the practices of community members, high school, TAFE and university students, local children’s education and care services, and local school representatives through:

  • Speaking to local high school students about successful women in the workforce, and careers in early childhood education.
  • Organising a bush kindy professional development session and follow up support to services and schools. This includes bush kindy visits to observe practices and procedures, and guidance on safety and equipment requirements and documentation.
  • Supporting services within the organisation through presenting regionally and state wide on children’s robotics use, and through developing cultural competence resources for an internal training package.

 

About the Excellent rating

Services that receive ‘Exceeding National Quality Standard’ in all seven quality areas can apply to ACECQA for the Excellent rating. The Excellent rating is awarded for three years. After this time services have the option to re-apply.