Program details
- Priority area: Wellbeing (social and emotional)
- Primary audience: Educators
- Delivery mode: Group training, resources (books, kits, manuals)
- Strength of evidence: Scale
- AEDC sub-domains: Physical health and wellbeing – physical independence
- Item cost: Low (<$200 per person/item)
Program description
The interactive, evidence-based MOVERS professional development program aims to enhance the quality of the movement environment in early childhood education settings. It specifically focuses on children's physical development.
The professional development for educators focuses on 4 key areas (aligning with the subscale in the MOVERS scale):
- curriculum, environment and resources for physical development (space, resources, gross and fine motor skills)
- pedagogy for physical development (staff engagement, observation, assessment, and planning)
- supporting physical activity and critical thinking (movement vocabulary, conversations, critical thinking risky play)
- parents/carers and staff.
The professional development focuses on children aged 2–5 years, however, the content is applicable to all children aged birth to 5 years.
A certificate of completion will be provided.
There are a range of options for delivery of professional development workshops:
Option 1
Two-day face-to-face professional development workshop. This workshop is for a maximum of 40 participants in total, and a maximum of 5 participants per ECE setting. Workshops are generally delivered in Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, although may be delivered in other locations if required.
Scheduled dates for 2024 are as follows:
- 22nd of July and 23rd of July (9.30am - 3:30pm on both days)
Additional workshops can be facilitated later in the year if required.
Option 2
On-site face-to-face professional development workshop (2 hours). All educators and staff members are welcome. Contact the provider to request dates.
Option 3
Online professional development workshops (6 x 1.5 hours). Workshops are deliver via Zoom for a maximum of 40 participants in total, and a maximum of 5 participants per ECE settings.
Scheduled dates for 2024 as follows:
- 23 of July - 27th August (1.5 hours, 5:00pm - 6:30pm).
Additional sessions can be added as needed.
Detailed cost
- Workshops: please email Rachel Jones (rachelj@uow.edu.au) for further information on costing. For on-site face-to-face professional development workshops, the cost is generally $450 for services located within one hour drive from the facilitator.
- Scale manuals: about $50 online (depending on bookseller).
Implementation considerations
- Target population: early childhood educators.
- Program/practice descriptions and details: the MOVERS professional development program encourages changes in pedagogy and practice to enhance the quality of the ECE movement environment.
- Factors to consider: the provider may be able to run training sessions in particular local areas if interest is sufficient. If travel is more than one hour and accommodation is needed, additional costs will vary.
- Supervision/coaching: workshop training is supplemented by ongoing phone support. Ongoing training in administration and use of the scale is also available.
- Staffing: services should consider the need for backfill when determining the cost of accessing this resource.
VEYLDF alignment
Item uses these practice principles
- Reflective practice, Partnerships with families
- High expectations for every child
- Respectful relationships and responsive engagement
- Assessment for learning and development
- Integrated teaching and learning approaches
- Partnerships with professionals
Item responds to these sub-outcomes
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
Updated