BUSHkids Annual Report 2018-2019

Section e kindy

eKindy experiences overcome barriers of distance and isolation to maximise growth BUSHkids eKindy gives children the building blocks for success in future education — such as a love of books and reading — as well as providng them with the confidence and independence they need to progress to school … and it’s the social skills the program provides which are especially important.

Many children joining our eKindy program have developmental delays linked to their isolation and lack of exposure to shared early years activities. Social norms in an eKindy ‘pod’ are very different to home settings with siblings (or lack of, in some cases), and we help kids adapt to a new environment of rules and social skills — such as routines and interpersonal co-operation — needed as they move into formal education. We have been working with the Department of Education and eKindy Queensland on a program to provide a kindy experience for children living in rural and remote areas who are unable to attend kindy on a regular basis, due to their isolation or to health issues making travel impractical. eKindy is available to children who live further than 16km from their nearest kindy or childcare centre, and children often come from families with travelling parents — such as Show families, drovers or seasonal workers — who do not stay in one location. All children who attend the BUSHkids eKindy pods are registered with the Brisbane School of Distance Education and can attend an eKindy class at their local state school for 15 hours of kindy across 40 weeks of the school year. BUSHkids works with their local communities to find the best facilitator and that person is supported by a qualified early childhood distance education teacher. A comprehensive ‘at home’ kindergarten program in the year before children enter Prep provides invaluable kindy experiences to maximise their learning as they play, create, imagine and discover, and prepare them to begin school. Parents often remark in feedback discussions about how much their child has developed through eKindy, particularly in social skills, noting that their child is better at taking turns, sharing with others, using their manners and saying hello and goodbye. Despite losing one or two eKindy sites from the 2018 program, the number of BUSHkids eKindy pods in 2019 has expanded to 26, a net increase of 12, spanning the eastern half of the State from the NSW border to the highlands west of Cairns. High demand for the program means that many sites require multiple eKindy classes, some with up to three pods per site with four children per pod. As 2019 draws to a close, we have almost 100 ‘future students’ attending ekindy every week.

CASE STUDY: SOUTHERN DOWNS Together building strength and confidence Down towards the NSW border, Jordan* has been achieving significant growth in the areas of social and emotional development, independence and persistence, as well as in his gross motor strength and control. Regular attendance at his local eKindy pod, and with opportunities to play alongside other children in a traditional kindergarten program, Jordan has learned to be more resilient when handling social interactions and dealing with any conflict. Jordan has moved on from independent play (being in control of his own space) to encountering play rules and resources to co-operatively share and negotiate, and he is now able to self-regulate without the support of an adult and rejoin play of his own accord and within a shorter time frame. He has developed more independence in taking care of his own belongings and in managing personal routines, such as unpacking and packing his bag and putting on his shoes and socks. When faced with a challenge — such as putting on his shoes — Jordan has learnt to be more persistent and keep trying even when it is becoming frustrating. He is able to recognise his achievements and this has enabled him to further challenge himself, such as by sliding down the fireman’s pole in the playground and mastering the balance beam. The regular and consistent exposure to the daily obstacle course and specifically planned gross motor program, has allowed Jordan to build not only his strength and gross motor development but also his confidence in trying new or more difficult physical activities. He has also learnt how to work within the discourse of kindy, joining in routines that might be different to home: such as packing away, getting ready for learning, sitting on the mat and listening to others whilst waiting his turn to talk.

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492 2018–2019

191 2017–2018

SESSIONS

*Not his real name

A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9