Early childhood education training - support children with additional needs

Explore learning modules designed to help early childhood professionals enhance their practice, including Early ABLES, autism, and disability and early childhood intervention courses.

The learning modules include Early ABLES, autism, disability and early childhood intervention online course.

Autism

Including children on the autism spectrum in the early years

The including children on the autism spectrum in the early years learning modules will help you develop a greater understanding of young children on the autism spectrum in their setting and to plan inclusive programs that support their learning and development.

Aims of the modules

The modules bring together introductory information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, policy and framework guidance plus programming approaches to support responsiveness to the individual needs of children on the autism spectrum.

Who the course is for

The course is relevant for both educators who are currently working with children on the autism spectrum and those who wishing to develop their knowledge and skills in this area.

The modules also provide access to a range of downloadable tools that are designed to support planning for quality, inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs.

Course outcomes

Completion of this course will contribute towards Victorian Teaching Institute (VIT) registration requirements.

Module content information

Module 1 - An introduction to young children on the autism spectrum

This module is designed to build understanding of young children on the autism spectrum. It covers:

  • what is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
  • how educators learn from observing the child
  • the importance of working in partnership with families
  • collaborating with early childhood professionals and support services.

Module 2 - Practice to support planning for the learning and development of a child on the autism spectrum

This module looks at the ways in which legislation and frameworks support us to plan and provide a program that supports the inclusion of children on the autism spectrum in learning and development opportunities offered in early childhood education and care environments.

This module has a focus on the 8 practice principles, which are clearly linked with inclusive programing and support for children on the autism spectrum:

  • family-centred practice
  • partnerships with professionals
  • high expectations for every child
  • equity and diversity
  • respectful relationships and responsive engagement
  • integrated teaching and learning approaches
  • assessment for learning and development
  • reflective practice.

Module 3 - Developing a responsive program

  • framework of adapting the program to support the meaningful participation and ongoing learning and development of children on the autism spectrum
  • programming with an aim to foster independence for children on the autism spectrum
  • a team approach to inclusion
  • how to support ongoing learning by using the child's strengths and interests as a starting point.

Early childhood intervention training

We are working in partnership with Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) to provide professional development opportunities for ECIS professionals.

There are a number of opportunities in Victoria for professional development across all areas of early childhood intervention; both general and discipline-specific.

Early ABLES and professional learning

Early ABLES is a strengths and observation-based online assessment for learning tool. It supports early childhood educators to provide a more individualised learning experience for children aged two to five years with disabilities and/or developmental delay.

Access to the online professional learning

Free online professional learning is available for early childhood educators using Early ABLES in their early childhood service.

It contributes up to five hours to the Victorian Institute of Teaching’s annual professional learning requirement of 20 hours. The five hours includes time to:

  • complete the online professional learning
  • reflect on the learning
  • plan for implementation into practice.

Access the ABLES professional learning using enrolment key: Early_ABLES33

The following video provides step by step instructions to support access to the online learning:

Who can use Early ABLES?

Early ABLES is designed for use by early childhood educators with children aged two to five years with disabilities and/or developmental delay.

Early ABLES is a suite of eight assessments which will support educators to:

  • observe and assess a child’s progress in learning
  • develop appropriate learning goals in collaboration with parents/carers and other professionals
  • develop an individualised learning plan with evidence-informed teaching and learning strategies
  • monitor progress along a likely progression of learning
  • support the development of an individual child’s learning program using the Early Years Planning Cycle
  • improve transition from early childhood to school through information sharing.

For more information visit Early ABLES

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