What is World Bee Day? 

World Bee Day is celebrated each year on May 20. This day is to focus on the imporantance and the essential role bees in our environment. 

Early Education centres take this day as an opportunity to teach the children about bees and all the important and fun facts there is to know. 

When is World Bee Day?

Saturday, 20 May

Activities: 

• Intentional Teaching: Learning about a bee's life cycle and learning how honey is made. 
• Learn about the Fun Facts about Bees
• Learning how honey is made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZlEjDLJCmg.

In a little corner of   Chatswood, on the north side of Sydney, you’ll find our little piece of magic.   We are over the moon to be recognised as exceeding the National Quality Standards in early childhood education and are inspired to play our part in bringing exceptional learning to our children and families.

What sets us apart is the love, heart, and soul our children get every day, our passion and commitment to our chosen profession, our amazing team and our strong family relationships. We pride ourselves on our inviting learning spaces, the foundations of our philosophy,  our exuberance and the passion that we put into all that we do.

The genuine connection between teachers, educators, families, children, and management gives everyone that ‘a place to call home’ feel and a place of support for our children, families, and staff.

Our learning environments are aligned with children’s interests and act as the third teacher, evoking new opportunities for children to delve deeper into their learning and appreciate new ways of thinking as they learn through play, inquiry and co-construction.

Creativity is a key area of our curriculum and is the source and essence of everything we teach. By learning through and appreciating the arts such as visual arts, music, movement, drama, sculpture, loose parts play,  mindfulness, we awaken the soul and potential within.

As Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach – “nothing without joy”, our days are filled with Love, Laughter and Learning.

What is World Asthma Day?

World Asthma Day is recognised globally to improve awareness about people around the world with asthma, the importance and triggers. 

There are many ways our communities, schools, early education and business can get involved by contributing in voicing the importance of World Asthma Day. 

World Asthma Day theme for 2023 is
 ‘Asthma care for All’ 

When is World Asthma Day?

Tuesday, 2 May

Activites:

• Invite the children to come dressed in something grey to raise awareness. 
• Teach your children about World Asthma Day, what is asthma, important facts and how to prevent it from occuring in a situation. 
• Organise an online or workplace training for your staff to further increase their understanding, skills and development in relation to working with children diagnosed Asthma. https://iggyandtheinhalers.com/pages/what-is-asthma
• Review action plans of children in your centre and ask parents to provide an updated action plan if required. 
• Provide your families information and important facts regarding Asthma how it can occur at any age. For further information click the following link:https://ginasthma.org/wad/
• Review and update your Asthma policy is applicable. 
• Reading children stories that teachers children about Asthma:
  • Breathe In, Breathe Out: Learning About Your Lungs by Pamela Hill Nettleton (Audio)
  • Taking Asthma to School Book by Kim Gosselin
  • Charlie has Asthma (A Doctor Spot Case Book) by Jenny Leigh

Following the confusion from ACECQA's announcement that HLTAID004 (Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting) course will be superseded by HLTAID012 (Provide first aid in an education and care setting) first aid course, both the Australian Children's Education & Care Authority (ACECQA) and the NSW Department of Education's Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate have since provided written clarifications.

Notwithstanding ACECQA's website (as of 16 February 2021 still) saying that "HLTAID004 was superseded by HLTAID012 on 15 October 2020" (as shown below), ACECQA has written to ACA NSW saying "please be assured that HLTAID004 remains on our published list of approved first aid qualifications. This means that any individual who holds HLTAID004 and satisfies the requirements of Regulation 136 is not impacted by the release of the new First Aid Training Package products."

The NSW Department of Education has also written to ACA NSW saying "that the validity of an educator’s qualification under the superseded units will remain fully recognised for its full intended duration (until it expires or they are required to take a refresher)."

ACA NSW now anticipates that all NSW Authorised Officers will be updated with the above information.  

Should any ACA NSW member require any further information/clarification, please contact ACA NSW on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au

PUBLISHED: 16 FEBRUARY 2021 

The video of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW Network meeting held on 8 February 2021 is as follows:

The corresponding slides for the above Network Meeting are here.

The topics discussed presented/discussed were:

• COVID-19 Update:
  • COVID vaccine(s) and their implications
  • Temporary shutdowns, restrictions and legal exclusions
  • CCS, gap fees and absences
• Regulatory Update:
  • Waivers to staff:children ratios due to labour shortages
  • NESA changes Professional Development requirements
  • Revised local councils’ planning rules
  • Changes for new services in multi-storey buildings
  • Return-to-work programme
• New platform to attract parents towards services
• NQF: Anticipated public consultation of the proposed changes
• Assessment & Ratings and Spotchecks in 2021
  • Use/Not use NSW’s (not ACECQA’s) Self-Assessment Working Document
  • Guidelines for Authorised Officers
• Current/Upcoming Issues:
  • Transition to School Statement
  • NSW funding for free community preschool programmes for 2021
  • Breaches/Non-compliances
  • Streamlining Approval Processes nationally

Should ACA NSW members require any further information, please do not hesitate to call the office on 1300 556 330 or e-mail nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 10 FEBRUARY 2021