hunt jennifer edp130 assignment 2 windows in the community

JENNIFER HUNT11368232

LECTURER: Melissa Smith

EPT308 Windows to the Community

Batchelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years)

Assignment 1Due: 22 September 2008

Word Count: 2600

Pages: 22 including Appendices

JENNIFER HUNT 11368232

1

Introduction:

At present I work at North Kiama OOSH 20 hours per week every afternoon from

2pm to 6pm, where I enjoy working with the children. During 2006 I completed the

Diploma of Children’s studies at Bedford College in Sydney. I enjoyed participating

in practical experience every Friday at Kiama Downs Children’s Centre, which also

included two two-week blocks, this gave me the insight to study early childhood in

greater detail.

I have designed a project that incorporates Brofenbrenner’s ecological system theory

(appendix four); which represents the relationship between the child and the setting,

including the community. It is about analysing the recognition of how children

develop, studying the ways in which children, communities and families are all

interconnected (Bowes, 2004). Through this project I will connect the early

children’s centre’s involvement in it’s local community, I will also be researching

aspects of the community that impact the families and children living there. The

project will also include discussion into how the centre responds to family needs, the

children’s needs and also community needs.

The early childhood service:

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre is managed by an organisation called Illawarra

Children’s Services (ICS), they are led by a central management team based in

Corrimal, they have been supporting children and families in our local region since

1981. Illawarra Children’s Services are a non for profit organization that believes in

helping all children reach their full potential, they provide services that include

preschools and long day care centres, outside school hours care, vacation care and

have a range of support programs (Organisation chart Appendix four).

Illawarra Children’s Services beliefs:

Philosophy: “All children should have access to high quality care

and education that supports lifelong learning”

Vision: “To be the leading provider of high quality services that

support children and families in regional and rural communities”.


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Mission: “to resource, deliver and manage innovative programs that

support children and families in the community” (Illawarra

Children’s Services).

ICS have a number of services in the Wollongong (wider community) and has one

service in our local area see (appendix two). They provide inclusion support for their

services; which include programs and projects that support children’s services staff in

helping to provide inclusive environments and programs for all children including

special needs children. Professional development is also offered to all of their staff

which include; conferences, parent information sessions, mentoring initiatives,

seminars, and workshops. ICS have a resource library, which provides a wide range

of children’s, play equipment, journals, books, videos and training kits; they also

provide publications that support their services.

Kiama Downs Children’s Service

Address: Hughes Crescent Kiama Downs

Phone: 02 42 37 8633

Fax: 02 42 37 5484

Email: [email protected]

Cost: $59.75 per day Childcare Benefit Available

Utilisation: 43 children Quality Assurance: High Quality Rating.

Kiama Downs Children’s Service is a long day care centre which cater for children

aged between 6 weeks to 5 years. They operate between the hours of 7am and 6pm

and operate for 50 weeks of the year. The centre staff come from diverse family

backgrounds offering a variety of skills, backgrounds and knowledge.

The centre consists of a team of dedicated staff: two university trained Early

Childhood Teachers, four Associate Diploma/Diploma of Children’s Services, two

certificate III in Children’s Services, one Childcare Worker, one trainee, a Cook, an

Administrative Officer and a Cleaner (Family Handbook, 2008). All staff have

mandatory working with children checks before commencing employment with the

organisation.


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mailto:[email protected]

The local community:

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre is located in Kiama Downs, part of the Illawarra of

New South Wales. Kiama Downs Children’s Centre caters for the needs of families

that live in the local area.

Kiama Downs is a coastal locality situated on the Princes Highway in New South

Wales. Kiama Downs is situated about 90 km southwest of Sydney. It has an altitude

of about 32m above sea level. Kiama Downs is 2.8km away from Kiama it’s nearest

more populous place; which has a population of approximately 12,000. Kiama is

famous for its spectacular coastline and rural scenery, it has also a rich heritage based

on dairy farming and quarrying.

maps.bonzle.com

Kiama Downs – Minnamurra – Bombo

Land Area: 754 hectares Density: 7.47 people per hectare (2006)


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The Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 has provided information on the local

community makeup surrounding the Children’s Centre and of the Kiama Area. The

main town of Kiama is five minutes away (Appendix 1).

Estimated population

Kiama 18, 984

Wollongong (wider community) 257,477

The families in the local community consist of a variety of religions Anglican being

the most popular then Catholic. There is a percentage of 12.6% of people that were

born overseas, the most coming from the North West Europe area with 8%. 3.1% of

Australians living in the Kiama area speak a language other than English at home.

There is an estimated 17.9% of people living in the wider community the Wollongong

region that also speak another language other than English at home. Statistics show

that the main languages other that English is Greek, Macedonian and Italian. The

same statistics show that there are 1.2% of residents in Kiama are Indigenous

compared to 2.2% in the wider region Wollongong.

All these statistics assist the Children’s Centre in catering for their community to

assist in positive programming for the children’s and family needs.

As stated in statistics there are 1140 persons under the age of four years old living in

the Kiama area. I have listed the local and wider community preschools that cater for

the Kiama area (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). A large number of these

centres have large waiting lists and it is not uncommon for families to book there

children in when falling pregnant because of this large waiting list, they hope that by

the time there unborn child needs childcare there place may be available.

(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006)

Kiama Local Area Childcare Facilities

Collins Street Kindy

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre

Kiama Kids Pre-School and Childcare Centre

Shoalhaven Street Kindy

CFK Kiama


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North Kiama Out Of School Hours Care

Childcare Facilities in Wider Community (within 15 min drive)

Gerringong

Gerringong Community Services Association

Gerringong Preschool Education Centre

Little Cherubs Children’s Centre

Wilbur Dolphin Childcare Centre

Gerringong After School Care

Shellharbour

Chillawong Childcare Centre

ABC Shell Cove

Blue Cove Preschool

Shell Cove Preschool

Jellybeans Family Daycare

Olitots Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

Stepping stones Childcare Centre

Flinders Preschool Education Centre

Junior Einstein Nurturing Centre

Wilbur Bear Childcare Centre

CFK Childcare Centre Blackbutt

Pelican Preschool and Long Day Care Centre

Shellharbour City Childcare Centre

Wilbur Whale Child Care Centre

Shellharbour OHSC and Vacation Care

Albion Park

Albion Park Children’s Centre

Bedrock Kids

Centenary Hill Preschool

Daintree Drive Preschool

Hillside Drive Preschool

Lavender Land preschool

Mount Terry Preschool


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Maintain View Early Childhood Centre

Terry Street Kids Childcare Centre

Alunga Child Care Centre

Albion Park OHSC and Vacation Care

Illawarra Family Daycare

Shellharabour/Kiama Family Day-care

Socio-Economic Status

In relation to the Exosystem (Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System, appendix three)

this area outlines employment, occupations and housing types within the Kiama and

Wollongong area. This information points out the needs of families and children in

the local area and assists the Children’s Centre in catering for the needs of families

and children.

Occupation – Top 5

Professionals

Sales/Clerical

Tradespersons

Professionals

Managers/Administrators

10%

6%

6%

5%

4%

6%

6%

6%

4%

2%

Education – Top 5

Not attending/working

Infants/primary/preschool

Secondary Education

Technical or Further Ed

University

72%

11%

9%

3%

3%

72%

10%

7%

3%

4%

Type of Dwelling

Separate house

Flat

Semi/Terrace

85%

7%

5%

79%

11%

6%


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(Kiama City Council, 2007)

New South Wales State and Country Statistics.

Person

Characteristics

NSW % of total

persons in

Region

Australia % of total

persons in

Australia

Total Persons 6,549,177 19,855,288

Males 3,228,451 49.3% 9,799,252 49.4%

Females 3,320,726 50.7% 10,056,036 50.6%

Indigenous 138,506 2.1% 455,031 2.3%


Experiences of the children:

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre believes that children learn through exploration, play

and development, they follow the NSW Curriculum Framework. Staff plan and

implement developmentally appropriate experiences for the children that promote

learning and understanding, in response to children’s interests, needs and abilities. A

general day at the centre includes a balance of indoor, outdoor, active, quiet,

individual and group activities creating a natural rhythm to the day. The day may

include water, sand play, music and movement, art and craft, block construction,

science, language and dramatic play. The experiences are programmed to support

each child’s social, physical, intellectual, emotional and language development also in

response to the child’s interest and abilities.

The centre believes all children are active contributors to their play and learning, as

they are continually growing, staff acknowledging each child as being unique, and

provide the children with enriching experiences too assist them in developing

relationships and trying to make sense of their world (Bronfenbrenner’s Social

Ecology Model, appendix three).

Each child at the centre is assigned a primary staff member who develops an

individual program specific to the needs and abilities of the child. “Staff abide by


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the ethical responsibilities outlined in the Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics

and pride themselves in being advocates for children and their families”.

Children are provided with a hot meal, with includes at least 50% of their daily-

recommended dietary intake of nutrients as set out in the dietary guidelines for

Australians. The service promotes healthy nutritious food and drink, including

culturally appropriate and promote healthy eating habits. The menu is displayed for

family members to view and input is encouraged (ICS Handbook). Each child is

given a personal individual folder that is given to the parents at the end of the year.

This folder contains bi-monthly learning stories, art works, and photographs, these

folders are available to parents to view throughout the year, parents are encouraged to

exchange information through their child’s portfolio and verbally on attendance.

Discussion on information gathered:

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre believe children can be effective members of their

community in saying this they provide the children with experiences that reflect

diversity, supporting individual values and attitudes. They are actively involved in

the transition to school program and promote relationships with nearby schools and

out of school hours care and professionals that can enrich the lives of the children

attending their service.

The centre staff promote open communication between parents and communicate

daily on the child’s daily experiences and development. They value the contributions

of families to their service, and respect how and when families choose to do so. Some

examples of how their families may contribute are:

Sharing interests, experiences, skills like cooking, building, gardening, arts,

drama and musical

They invite all family members to be apart of their parent and community

group

Invite families to assist with excursions and service events

Invite families to assist in fund raising opportunities

Invite families to join the Illawarra Children’s Services Board to contribute to

policy development and governance.

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre is assisted by a voluntary committee consisting of

parents of the children who attend as well as interested members of the community.


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They also have a P and C Participation Group where all parents and community

representatives are invited to attend. Parents are surveyed to establish the most

suitable time for the meetings. Meetings are held every six to eight weeks, the

director of the centre presents a report, and general business, community needs, and

concerns are addressed.

Included in Kiama Downs Children’s Centre Philosophy (Kiama Down’s Children’s

Centre Family Handbook) in relation to the community “We believe:

in drawing on the resources of the community in order to increase awareness

of diversity within the community

in promoting a positive image to the community and to work in partnership

with the community to ensure they are aware of our service and what we have

to offer.

The centre aims to provide care for children in the community with additional needs.

The staff work with Illawarra Children’s Services (ICS) Inclusion Support Unit. The

centre believes the inclusion of children with additional needs into mainstream Early

Childhood Education is beneficial to all children attending the service (Merryn

Teacher).

The centre asks for parent fees to paid one week in advance, and parents experiencing

difficulties are asked to discuss the matter with the centre director where all matters

are discussed in confidence and payment plans can be delivered (Parent Handbook).

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre provides information to parents in relation to Before

and After School Care Services for siblings during school holidays, and also has

information for these services in the transition to school pack given to parents where

children are starting school in the new year. In the foyer of the centre there is a parent

library, containing resources, video’s, DVDs and pamphlets parents are able to

borrow at any time.

As there are only two early childhood centres in Kiama Downs and three centres in

Kiama, and records show that there are 1140 infants living in the area 6% of Kiama’s

population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006), childhood places are in high

demand. There is a waiting list at all services and at Kiama Downs Children’s Centre

their list is divided into three sections, 0-2 years, 2-3 years and 3-5 years, priority of

access guidelines have been set by the Federal Government (Department of Human

Services and Health), for parents wanting to use Long Day Care Centres (Centre

Handbook).


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As property in our local community is quite high the average family has both parents

working, which means the average child spends less time with parents and sometimes

equal time with educators and other community members, resulting in a partnership in

their child’s development (Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecology Model, appendix three).

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre uses a variety of ways to identify children’s

individual, family needs, and to identify community needs, by using positive

communication and good relations with parents and families they are able to

positively be active members in their community. The centre opens early at 7am and

closes at 6pm to cater for the increasing working parents of the community.

On enrolment parents are asked to provide the centre with information such as culture,

medical history, languages spoken at home, all of this information is gathered and

discussed to ensure the centre is committed to the needs of their local community, and

all children will benefit from this large range of culture that can be programmed into

the service.

As Cultural statistics are low 3.1% in our community I believe that the centre is

catering for this by inviting special guests into their centre to educate their children on

diverse experiences, they also provide the children with numerous resources, and have

posters on their wall to show families of their inclusive diverse practices.

Conclusion:

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre works with various resource agencies to help

provide a safety net for families and provide a solid resource for strengthening all

relationships within a child’s mesosystem (Neighborhood and community).

“Today educating a child takes cooperation and involvement from educators, parents,

families, and the community “It takes a village to raise a child” Research is showing

us that the more the family and community involvement in schools, the greater the

students achievement” (Neighbourhood and Community).

As Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecology Model shows us the community has always been

an important influence in a child’s development, and with increased burdens such as

income, single parents, high housing, limited places for childcare, communities are

definitely becoming a definite impact on children in positive ways, and educators

today need to be aware of the needs of their communities.


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As there are numerous influencing factors in a child’s life all of which are factors in

the ecological systems, community members including early childhood carers need to

provide a positive link between the ecological systems to help children build on

establishing stable and positive relationships. As part of the exosystem, society,

culture and the community provide support for positive relationships within the social

ecology model by providing values, material resources and context within which these

relationships operate (Lewis, R., & Morris, J., 1998).

Looking closely into Brenfenbrenner's Social Ecology Model I believe that Kiama

Downs Children’s Centre is positively offering a stable and positive link within their

individual children’s Microsystem and Mesosystems, the environments that

immediately impact the child’s life. They take into account the needs of the families,

which include family make up, socio economics, neighbourhoods, and work in

partnership with community members to support Bronfenbrenner's Social Ecology

Model.


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References

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2006b). Kiama Downs statistics. Retrieved Sunday

20th July, 2008, Kiama Municipal Council from

http://www.id.com.au/profile/Default.aspx?id=296&pg=102&type=enum

Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Regional Profile, 2000 to 2004, Kiama

Retrieved on Sunday 27th July 2008 from,

http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/97019F58830D8A90CA257

1CB00206603/$File/NRP_115054400.xls

Bowes, J. (2004). Children, families and communities: Contents and consequence.

South Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University.

Bronfenbrenner’s theory on ecological systems (image) (n.d). Retrieved on

Sunday July, 2008, from http://homepages.ius.edu/kgsears/image025.jpg

Bronfenbrenner. U. (1979), the Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by

Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, Retrieved

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wike/Ecological_Systems_Theory

Bonzle, Map of Kiama Downs, Retrieved Sunday 20th July, 2008 from,

http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=14061

Dean, M. and Huitt, W. Neighbourhood and Community, Retrieved Sunday 20th July,

2008 from, file:///C//My%20Documents/My%20Webs/Bronfenbrenner

%20webquest/community

Domain, Kiama Downs suburb profile. Retrieved Sunday 20th July, 2008 from,

http://www.domain.com.au/Public/suburbprofile.aspx?

mode=research&searchTerm=…


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wike/Ecological_Systems_Theory

http://homepages.ius.edu/kgsears/image025.jpg

http://www.id.com.au/profile/Default.aspx?id=296&pg=102&type=enum

Illawarra Children’s Services, Kiama Downs Children’s Centre, Family Information

Booklet, 2008.

Illawarra Children’s Services, Parent handbook, 2008, Retrieved on Sunday 27th July

2008 from, http://www.ics.org.au/downloads/parent_handbook_2008.pdf

Illawarra Children’s Services, Early Childhood 0 – 5 years, Retrieved Monday 21st

July, 20087, from http://www.ics.org.au/

Illawarra Child Care, Kindergartens, Early Learning Centres, Retrieved Monday 21st

July, 2008 from, http://www.echildcare.com.au/region/illawarra/

Kiama Municipal Council, Community Profile, Retrieved Monday 21st July, 2008

from, http://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/

Lewis and Morris (1998), Retrieved Sunday 20th July, 2008 from, file:////C/My

%20Documents/my%20Webs/bronfenbrenner%20webquest/community

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2004). Techniques for teaching young children;

Choices in Theory and Practice, South Melbourne: Longman.

Paquette Dede/John Ryan, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Retrieved

on Sunday 27th July 2008 from, http://pt3.nl.edu/paquetteryanwebquest.pdf

Wikipedia, Ecological Systems Theory, Retrieved on Sunday 27th July 2008 from,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_Systems_Theory

Appendix One


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_Systems_Theory

http://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/

http://www.echildcare.com.au/region/illawarra/

Demographics Kiama Local Community:

Kiama Wollongong (wider

community)

Population size

Males

Females

Indigenous

18,984

49%

51%

1.2%

257477

49.2%

50.8%

2.2%

Country of Origin

Australian Born

Overseas Born

86%

12.6%

73%

Born Overseas – Top 5

United Kingdom

New Zealand

Germany

Netherlands

Italy

7%

1%

0%

0%

0%

7%

1%

1%

1%

2%

Age Statistics

40-59

5-19

60+

20-39

0-4

28%

23%

21%

21%

6%

26%

22%

18%

28%

7%

Family Statistics

Married

Never married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

60%

24%

7%

6%

2%

53%

30%

7%

7%

3%

Religion – Top 5

Anglican

Catholic

No Religion

34%

29%

14%

28%

33%

13%


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Uniting Church

Presbyterian and Reformed

8%

6%

7%

4%

Occupation – Top 5

Professionals

Sales/Clerical

Tradespersons

Professionals

Managers/Administrators

10%

6%

6%

5%

4%

6%

6%

6%

4%

2%

Education – Top 5

Not attending/working

Infants/primary/preschool

Secondary Education

Technical or Further Ed

University

72%

11%

9%

3%

3%

72%

10%

7%

3%

4%

Transport to Work – Top 5

Car (driver)

Car (passenger)

Work at home

Walked

Train only

26%

3%

2%

1%

0%

23%

3%

2%

1%

1%

Type of Dwelling

Separate house

Flat

Semi/Terrace

85%

7%

5%

79%

11%

6%

Nature of Occupancy

Fully Owned

Purchasing

Rented

51%

25%

18%

45%

22%

27%

Monthly Loan Repayment

$600-$799

$1000-$1,199

$400-$599

18%

15%

15%

18%

15%

14%



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Appendix Two

Illawarra Children’s Services Centres:

Preschools and Long Day Care:

Barrack Heights Children’s Centre

Bellambi Point Preschool


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Bulli Children’s Centre

Cobbler’s Hill Children’s Centre

Corrimal Children’s Centre

Dapto Children’s Centre

Helensburgh Community Preschool

Kenny Street Children’s Centre

Kiama Downs Children’s Centre

Koonawarra Children’s Centre

Narellan Early Learning Centre

Port Kembla Preschool

Stewart Street Children’s House

Warrawong Children’s house

Western Suburbs Child Care Centre

OHSC

Albion Park (Before and After School Care, School Holiday Program)

Balarang OSHC (Before and After School Care, School Holiday Program)

Fairy Meadow OSHC (Before and After School Care, School Holiday

Program)

Northern Suburbs OSHC (After School Care, School Holiday Program)

Shellharbour/Flinders OSHC (After School Care, School Holiday Program)

Unanderra OSHC (After School Care, School Holiday Program)

West Wollongong OSHC (After School Care)

Wollongong East OSHC (After School Care, School Holiday Program)

Corrimal Special Needs vacation Care

Illawarra Special Needs Vacation Care

http://www.ics.org.au\early_childhood/centres.html

Appendix Three

Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology model:


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htttp:\\homepages.ius.edu/kgsears/image025.jpg

Ecological Systems Theory

This theory is also sometimes called the “Development in Context” or “Human

Ecology” theory. It consists of four types of interconnected environmental systems.

It contains four systems, each system containing roles, norms and rules that shape

development (Ecological Systems theory):

Microsystem

The microsystem is the layer closest to the child it involves the direct contact a child

has. “The microsystem encompasses the relationship and interactions a child has with

her immediate surroundings (Berk, 2000)”.

Mesosystem

The mesosystem is the layer, which includes the child’s involvement with parents,

teachers, religious groups/leaders and his surrounding neighbourhood (Berk, 2000).

These are the interrelationships, which the child actively participates in regularly

(Bowes, 2004).


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Exosystem

The exosystem is the layer which includes a larger social system in which the child

does not function directly for example parents workplace, siblings sporting events,

experiences that the child still feels positive or negative forces from that can affect

development (Berk, 2000).

Macrosystem

The Macrosystem this is the most outermost layer of a child’s environment; they

include environmental changes, cultural views, customs and laws (Berk, 2000). This

system incorporates cultural values and beliefs, which are passed on by families,

religious groups and government institutions (Bowes, 2004).


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